Polyoxometalates-Based Semi-flexible Metal-Semiconductor Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Low Frequency and Small Amplitude Mechanical Energy Harvesting

The development of high-performance and low-cost durable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) is essential for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. Many organic polymer friction materials used widely have thermal stability problems, which makes TENGs with semiconductors as friction materials stand out. Here, we report a semi-flexible TENG based on metal and TiO₂ modified by polyoxometalates (POMs) as pure inorganic friction materials. Six different POMs are firstly selected to modify the friction materials of TENGs, and the output performance of TENGs with different POMs-modified semiconductors and different metals as friction materials are tested. Compared with the unmodified TENGs, the open-circuit voltage (V_OC ) of the optimal Ag-K₆ P₂ Mo₁₈ O₆₂ (P₂ Mo₁₈ )/TiO₂ TENG device is increased by more than 4 times, which is mainly attributed to the strong electron-accepting and storage capabilities of POMs. This study has demonstrated that TENGs modified by POMs have potential application prospects and provided a new method for increasing the electrical output of TENGs.

Strategic Design of a Bifunctional NiFeCoW@NC Hybrid to Replace the Noble Platinum for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells and Hydrogen Evolution Reactions

High-performance triiodide reduction reaction (IRR) catalysts in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts in electrochemical water splitting are extremely compelling for renewable energy conversion and storage. The best IRR and HER catalysts generally rely on the use of noble metal platinum (Pt), which suffers obstacles in real-world implementation. The rational design of efficient bifunctional IRR and HER catalysts based on inexpensive and earth-abundant elements to replace scarce Pt could enable low-cost photoelectric conversion and hydrogen production but is challenging and rarely reported. Herein, we present a bifunctional NiFeCoW@NC hybrid with the unique architecture of WC loaded on the in situ formed carbon nanotubes embedded with Co-doped FeNi₃ nanoparticles based on the anisotropic integration design principle, which operates efficiently for DSSCs and hydrogen evolution. The assembled DSSCs using the designed multimetal-based NiFeCoW@NC counter electrode delivered a high power conversion efficiency of 6.92% and long-term stability superior to bimetal-based NiFe@NC, CoW@NC, and Pt counterparts. It also exhibited eminent hydrogen evolution performance with a low overpotential of 127.8 mV to drive a 10 mA cm^-2 current density, a Tafel slope of 60.4 mV dec^-1, and satisfactory durable stability in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. This work provides a design principle for low-cost and highly active bifunctional catalysts to replace Pt for DSSCs and hydrogen evolution.

A large beam high efficiency radio frequency neutron spin flipper

A design for a radio frequency (RF) neutron spin flipper obtained from magneto-static and neutron spin transport simulations is presented. The RF flipper constructed from this design provides a flipping probability of 0.999 or better for a beam size 6 cm wide and 15 cm high and a wavelength band between 0.4 and 0.6 nm. Three permanent magnet guide field sections with air gaps provide a linear field gradient along the beam propagation direction over a large cross-sectional area. An RF oscillator based on coupling the resonant coil of a Hartley oscillator to the excitation coil was developed, which provides a higher current and, thereby, a larger RF amplitude, as compared to a conventional RF power amplifier. Two opaque He3 neutron spin filters were employed to measure the flipping probability of the flipper with very high precision. A spatially uniform flipping probability of 0.9995(2) or higher was measured over the large cross-sectional area neutron guide. This RF neutron spin flipper will be employed in a polychromatic beam reflectometer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research. This design can be applied to other polarized neutron instruments or applications requiring a very high continuous flipping probability of the neutron spin for a large cross-sectional area beam.

Six ways to get a grip on leveraging the expertise of Instructional Design and Technology professionals

We underutilize the knowledge and skills of Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) professionals, despite the frequent challenges in implementing learning technologies in medical education. This is largely due to a lack of understanding among stakeholders regarding the expertise of IDT professionals and their role in technology implementation processes. We seek to improve technology implementation outcomes by explaining the IDT field's foundational tenets of a systems perspective and disciplined approach, clarifying the role that IDT professionals can play in educational technology initiatives, and providing guidance on how to foster productive collaborations in pursuit of effective technology-enhanced learning.

Navigating complexity: The importance of design-based research for faculty development

Despite the importance of evidence-based medical education, navigating the complexity of its implementation can be frustrating. Faculty development that engages and supports medical educators in Design-Based Research is one promising approach to respond to this challenge. An essential aspect of this process is to expand faculty's Zone of Generativity and thus foster their individual and collective capabilities to navigate the complexity of implementing evidence-based medical education.

Effects of alkanolamine solvents on the aggregation states of reactive dyes in concentrated solutions and the properties of the solutions

The aggregation of dyes is a common phenomenon in solutions, particularly concentrated solutions, which seriously affects the dyeing and printing processes. In this study, the effects of alkylamine solvents on the reactive dye aggregation behavior in highly concentrated solutions was studied. Typical cases were conducted with two slightly toxic and environmentally friendly solvents, namely diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA), and two reactive dyes, namely C. I. Reactive Red 218 (R-218) and C. I. Reactive Orange 13 (O-13). Aggregation states were studied by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy, Gaussian-peak-fitting method and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results showed that both the additives DEA and TEA could reduce the dye aggregation because the solvents, DEA and TEA, can break the iceberg structure and allow easy entry of the molecules into the dye aggregates. Also, the disaggregation caused by DEA was higher as compared with TEA, which may be caused by the weaker hydrogen bond and the relatively smaller steric hindrance effects of DEA. The schematic of disaggregation between R-218 and DEA was also discussed. For R-218, the dimers were disaggregated to monomer, while the higher-ordered aggregates were disaggregated to trimers and dimers for O-13. Moreover, physical properties such as viscosity and surface tension of the solutions were measured. This investigation is instructive for the further dyeing progress with organic bases in the textile industries.

Investigation of gamma secretase gene complex mutations in German population with Hidradenitis suppurativa designate a complex polygenic heritage

BACKGROUND

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting apocrine gland-bearing skin in the axilla, groin and under the breasts. Mutations of the gamma secretase gene complex, which is essential in the activation of Notch signalling pathways, were shown in some families with HS and in a few sporadic cases. Although an imbalance in Notch signalling is implicated in the pathogenesis, the exact mechanism of HS development is yet unknown.

OBJECTIVES

We aim to investigate the genetic basis of HS by determining the presence of mutations of gamma secretase gene complex in a cohort of HS patients and by searching for a disease-causing pathogenic variant in a multi-generational HS family using parametric linkage analysis.

METHODS

Thirty-eight patients clinically diagnosed with HS were included in this study. All exons and exon-intron boundaries of the genes encoding gamma secretase complex consisting of six genes: APH1A, APH1B, PSENEN, NCSTN, PSEN1 and PSEN2 were sequenced by Sanger technique. Genetic mapping with parametric linkage analysis for the patients in the family was performed with eight affected and four healthy individuals. The logarithm of odds was calculated.

RESULTS

In a sporadic patient with early-onset, severe lesions in axilla and groin, a novel single-nucleotide deletion causing frameshift in exon 1 of the NCSTN gene was identified ((NM_015331.3): c.38delG, p.(Gly13Glufs*15)). The LOD score of 1.5 was never exceeded in any region of the genome, pointing towards intricate multi-genic inheritance pattern within the affected family.

CONCLUSIONS

The gamma secretase gene complex mutations were rare in our cohort (3.2%). Besides, our analysis indicates a possible complex multi-genic inheritance in a seemingly autosomal dominantly inherited large HS family. Genetics of both familial and sporadic HS may be complicated in most cases, and the role of other potential genes such as autoinflammatory and modifier genes as well as environmental factors may influence the pathogenesis.

Effect of Diethylene Glycol on the Inkjet Printability of Reactive Dye Solution for Cotton Fabrics

Digital inkjet printing technology plays an increasingly important role in textile printing. The printing printability of reactive dye inks is the key to improving the quality of printed fabrics. In this study, an eco-friendly and simple method to improve the inkjet printability of reactive dye solutions was proposed. The influence of diethylene glycol on the surface tension, rheology, and dye molecule aggregation properties for three reactive dye solutions was investigated. The jetting performance of dye solutions was explored by observing droplet formation. Moreover, the color performance of printed cotton fabrics, including reactive dye solution penetration, colorimetric values, and color strength, was evaluated. Addition of diethylene glycol could change the aggregation of dye molecules by hydrophobic forces and hydrogen bonds. Diethylene glycol could inhibit formation of satellite droplets by changing the viscosity and surface tension of solutions, which made the pattern printed on cotton fabrics show regular edge sharpness. Furthermore, the dye solutions containing 10% DEG not only satisfied various properties of reactive dye inks but also had the highest color strength and the deepest and brightest colors.

Brain Metastases From Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study of 22 Patients

BACKGROUND

Brain metastasis from differentiated thyroid cancer has followed a similar increasing trend to that of thyroid cancer in recent years. However, the characteristics and treatments for brain metastases are unclear. The aim of this study was to understand this disease by analyzing patients with brain metastases from differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).

METHODS

Between 2000 and 2020, the database of the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center was searched for differentiated thyroid cancer patients. We identified a cohort of 22 patients with brain metastases. The characteristics of the patients, histological features, treatments, and time of death were reviewed. The overall survival (OS) rate was calculated using the Kaplan Meier method. Survival curves of different subgroups were compared according to baseline characteristics and treatments received.

RESULTS

A total of 22 (1.09%) out of 2013 DTC patients in the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center database were identified as having brain metastases. The overall median survival time was 17.5 months (range from 1-60 months) after diagnosis of brain metastasis. Performance statue (PS), tumor site, and neurosurgery impacted survival, according to Kaplan-Meier analysis. Prognosis of skull metastasis was superior to that of intracranial types. Neurosurgery was the only type of treatment that had an impact on patient OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Brain metastasis from differentiated thyroid cancer has a poor prognosis. However, it can be improved by comprehensive treatment. PS of the patients can greatly affect survival. Skull metastases have improved prognosis over intracranial types. Radioiodine therapy (RAIT) appears to effectively improve the prognosis of patients with skull metastases from DTC.

Polyoxometalate modified transparent metal selenide counter electrodes for high-efficiency bifacial dye-sensitized solar cells

We present a facile one-step hydrothermal approach for the growth of PW₁₁Co/Co_0.85Se on a conductive glass substrate, which could be used as transparent CE in bifacial DSSCs with enhanced front and back efficiencies of 7.56% and 5.82%, respectively.

"Nothing Operates in Isolation": Learning Biochemistry and Physiology Through Drawing

Mastering complex biochemistry pathways and physiological processes can be challenging for undergraduate medical students. Although drawing out the conceptual relationships in complex information can potentially support student learning, there is a lack of consensus in current literature regarding optimal strategies that effectively integrate drawing into teaching. In this paper, we report our experience incorporating drawing in multiple approaches during the delivery of first-year pre-clerkship biochemistry and physiology instructional sessions. Students' perception of and experience with these different strategies were compared. Themes that emerged from learner feedback and their implications for future practice and research are presented.

Aggregation Tuning with Heavily Fluorinated Donor Polymer for Efficient Organic Solar Cells

The fluorination/sulfofication-induced effect in the photovoltaic polymer solar cells (PSCs) needs to be paid much attention. In this work, a new donor polymer PBDB-PS2F was synthesized by heavily fluorinated and decorated S atom on the side chain of benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene (BDT) unit to explore the internal combined effect of F&S on the photoelectric performance. It was found that the heavy fluorination on the side chain could make PBDB-PS2F achieve a low highest occupied molecule orbital (HOMO) energy level of -5.72 eV and weaken the torsion of the main chain and effectively increase the intermolecular π-π* transition. Encouragingly, compared with the counterpart polymer PBDB-PS without the fluorination, PBDB-PS2F exhibited a much intense aggregation at room temperature but showed a tendency of reduced aggregation at high temperatures. This feature gives excellent solution processability and uniform morphology in the active layer of a PBDB-PS2F-based device, enabling an outstanding photovoltaic performance with the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.56% (V_OC = 0.90 V, J_SC = 21.53 mA/cm², FF = 69.68%). Compared with that of the counterpart polymer PBDB-PS with no heavy fluorination, the V_OC of PBDB-PS2F increased by 15.4% and the PCE increased by 30.9%. Thus, the heavy-fluorination-induced effect to construct photovoltaic polymers could be used to improve the performance of polymer solar cells.

Effect of ethylene glycol and its derivatives on the aggregation properties of reactive Orange 13 dye aqueous solution

The aggregation behavior of dyes especially in the dyeing and printing of different textile materials is an important phenomenon which affects the process of dye adsorption and diffusion. In order to avoid the aggregation of dyes, scientists are looking for materials which can inhibit the aggregation process by fabricating the dye solution. Organic solvents have found important influence in the aggregation of dye molecules. Therefore, herein, we report the fabrication of reactive orange 13 dye solutions with the aid of ethylene glycol and its derivative organic solvents to investigate the aggregation behavior of dye molecules by UV-vis absorption spectrum, fluorescence spectrum, surface tension, rheological and particle size measurements. IR spectra were performed to understand the effect of hydrogen bonding on the aggregation behavior of dye molecules. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy was also tested to confirm the effect of organic solvents on the surface morphology of dye molecules. The results show that the reactive Orange 13 dye molecules show aggregation in terms of dimeric and multimeric structures at high dye concentrations due to π–π interaction of naphthalene rings. Moreover, on introducing the ethylene glycol and its derivatives, the dye molecules disaggregate by hydrophobic interactions of dye molecules and organic solvents which destroyed the ice-like structure between the dye molecules and the water molecules. Among the three organic solvents, DME solvent caused more disaggregation of reactive Orange 13 dye molecules due to extra hydrophobic methyl groups in its structure. The results also show that the interaction between Orange 13 dyes and ethylene glycol and its derivatives could decrease the surface tension and particle size of the dye, and increase the quantum yield and viscosity. This research will help to understand the aggregation behavior of dyes and help the textile industries to choose the suitable formulations of dye solutions for coloration of different textile substrates via dyeing and printing methods.

The interaction between Orange 13 dye and ethylene glycol and its derivatives was determined by the dispersion force.

[Regulatory relationship between lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 and miR-146a-3p in preeclampsia]

Objective: To observe the changes of the expression level of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) KCNQ1OT1 and microRNA (miR)-146a-3p in placenta tissues of preeclampsia (PE) patients, as well as their effect and mechanism on the biological functions of trophoblast cells. Methods: A total of 45 cases of hospitalized PE patients in Hainan General Hospital from July 2017 to July 2018 were selected as the PE group, 55 normal pregnant women during the same period were chosed as the control group. The expression level of KCNQ1OT1 mRNA and miR-146a-3p in the placenta tissues between two groups were detected by using quantitative real time (qRT)-PCR. Pearson's test was furtherly analyzed the correlation between them. Human trophoblast cell line (HTR8/SVneo) were randomly divided into control and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) groups, and then LPS group were divide into four sub-groups,included LPS group, short hairpin RNA (sh)-KCNQ1OT1 (after silencing the expression of KCNQ1OT1), miR-146a-3p inhibitor and sh-KCNQ1OT1+miR-146a-3p inhibitor. The targeting relationship between KCNQ1OT1 and miR-146a-3p were predicted by bioinformatics software and confirmed by luciferase assay. The cell proliferation and invasion capacities were respectively detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay. The expression level of KCNQ1OT1 mRNA and miR-146a-3p were detected by qRT-PCR and the protein expression level of CXC chemokine ligand 12 （CXCL12） and CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) were tested by western blot. Results: (1) The mRNA expression level of KCNQ1OT1 in the placenta of PE group was lower than that of control group (0.23±0.03 vs 0.51±0.04, P<0.05), and the miR-146a-3p expression level was higher than that of the control group (0.49±0.03 vs 0.31±0.03, P<0.05), there were statistical significant differences between the two groups. (2) Luciferase assay showed that there was a targeting relationship between KCNQ1OT1 and mir-146a-3p. Compared with the control group, the mRNA expression level of KCNQ1OT1 in the LPS group were significantly decreased (0.91±0.03 vs 0.35±0.03, P<0.05), and the expression level of miR-146a-3p were significantly increased (0.22±0.03 vs 0.63±0.04, P<0.05). The cell proliferation, invasion and migration capacities and the protein expression of CXCL12 and CXCR4 significantly reduced in the LPS group compared with control group (all P<0.05). The mRNA expression level of KCNQ1OT1 (0.23±0.03) in the sh-KCNQ1OT1 group were further decreased, the expression of miR-146a-3p (0.85±0.03) were further increased, and the cell proliferation, invasion and migration capacities and the protein expression of CXCL12 and CXCR4 were all further reduced compared with control group，there were significant difference between two groups (all P<0.05). Comparing the miR-146a-3p inhibitor group, and sh-KCNQ1OT1+miR-146a-3p inhibitor group with the sh-KCNQ1OT1 group, respectively, the expression level of KCNQ1OT1 mRNA (0.78±0.04 vs 0.50±0.03) increased, and the expression level of miR-146a-3p (0.42±0.03 vs 0.46±0.03) decreased, the cell proliferation, invasion and migration capacities and the protein expression of CXCL12 and CXCR4 were all increased ,there were statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). Conclusion: KCNQ1OT1 could target the regulation of miR-146a-3p through CXCL12/CXCR4 pathway in the proliferation, invasion an migration of HTR8/SVneo cells, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of PE.

Twelve tips for conducting educational design research in medical education

Despite a steady growth in educational innovations and studies investigating the acceptance and effectiveness of these innovations, medical education has not realized sufficient improvement in practice and outcomes from these investments. In light of this lack of impact, there has been a growing call for studies that more effectively bridge the gap between research and practice. This paper introduces Educational Design Research (EDR) as a promising approach to address this challenge. Twelve tips are provided to inspire and guide medical educators to conduct EDR to achieve the dual goals of tackling a significant educational problem in a specific context while at the same time advancing the theoretical knowledge that may be used to improve practice elsewhere.

Appropriate Molecular Interaction Enabling Perfect Balance Between Induced Crystallinity and Phase Separation for Efficient Photovoltaic Blends

Fluorination is a promising modification method to adjust the photophysical profiles of organic semiconductors. Notably, the fluorine modification on donor or acceptor materials could impact the molecular interaction, which is strongly related to the morphology of bulk heterojunction (BHJ) blends and the resultant device performance. Therefore, it is essential to investigate how the molecular interaction affects the morphology of BHJ films. In this study, a new fluorinated polymer PBDB-PSF is synthesized to investigate the molecular interaction in both nonfluorinated (ITIC) and fluorinated (IT-4F) systems. The results reveal that the F-F interaction in the PBDB-PSF:IT-4F system could effectively induce the crystallization of IT-4F while retaining the ideal phase separation scale, resulting in outstanding charge transport. On the contrary, poor morphology can be observed in the PBDB-PSF:ITIC system because of the unbalanced molecular interaction. As a consequence, the PBDB-PSF:IT-4F device delivers an excellent power conversion efficiency of 13.63%, which greatly exceeds that of the PBDB-PSF:ITIC device (9.84%). These results highlight manipulating the micromorphology with regard to molecular interaction.

Size Effect of Two-Dimensional Conjugated Space in Photovoltaic Polymers' Side Chain: Balancing Phase Separation and Charge Transport

Various two-dimensional (2D) side-chain-substituted benzo(1,2-b:4,5-b')dithiophene (BDT) blocks have been used to construct donor polymers, whereas the size effect of the side chains on the photovoltaic performance was overlooked in the past few years. In this work, three size-varied conjugated spaces (benzene, naphthalene, and biphenyl) were introduced into the corresponding polymers PBDB-Ph, PBDB-Na, and PBDB-BPh. This space engineering has a significant impact on the extent of phase separation in the active layer which blended with the polymer and the acceptor ITCPTC and preserved the desired morphology. The varied space size in the side chains lead to distinct balance mobility ratios of holes to electrons (benzene, 0.21; naphthalene, 0.75; and biphenyl, 0.57). Finally, PBDB-Na-based polymer solar cells (PSCs) delivered the highest power conversion efficiency of 12.52% when compared to the PSC performances of PBDB-Ph (8.48%) and PBDB-BPh (11.35%). The method in tailoring the side chain structures could fabricate a balance between phase separation and charge transport, providing an enlightenment for the development of photovoltaic devices.

Significantly Enhanced Molecular Stacking in Ternary Bulk Heterojunctions Enabled by an Appropriate Side Group on Donor Polymer

Ternary strategy is a promising approach to broaden the photoresponse of polymer solar cells (PSCs) by adopting combinatory photoactive blends. However, it could lead to a more complicated situation in manipulating the bulk morphology. Achieving an ideal morphology that enhances the charge transport and light absorption simultaneously is an essential avenue to promote the device performance. Herein, two polymers with different lengths of side groups (P1 is based on phenyl side group and P2 is based on biphenyl side group) are adopted in the dual-acceptor ternary systems to evaluate the relationship between conjugated side group and crystalline behavior in the ternary system. The P1 ternary system delivers a greatly improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.06%, which could be attributed to the intense and broad photoresponse and improved charge transport originating from the improved crystallinity. Inversely, the P2 ternary device only exhibits a poor PCE of 8.97%, where the decreased device performance could mainly be ascribed to the disturbed molecular stacking of the components originating from the overlong conjugated side group. The results demonstrate a conjugated side group could greatly determine the device performance by tuning the crystallinity of components in ternary systems.

Upregulation of OIP5-AS1 Predicts Poor Prognosis and Contributes to Thyroid Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration

As a common malignancy, thyroid cancer mainly occurs in the endocrine system. There have been accumulating studies on therapeutic methods of thyroid cancer, but its internal molecular mechanism is still not fully understood. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) OIP5-AS1 was confirmed as an oncogene and related to poor prognosis in various cancers. Nevertheless, its role and underlying mechanism remain unclear in thyroid cancer. Here, we observed a significant upregulation of OIP5-AS1 in thyroid cancer tissues and cells, and upregulated OIP5-AS1 was correlated with poor prognosis in thyroid cancer. Moreover, OIP5-AS1 knockdown resulted in the inhibited cell proliferation and migration, while overexpressed OIP5-AS1 exhibited the reverse function in thyroid cancer. Besides, OIP5-AS1 was found to positively regulate Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Through mechanism exploration, OIP5-AS1 was discovered to activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via FXR1/YY1/CTNNB1 axis. Finally, rescue assays indicated that the inhibitive role of silenced OIP5-AS1 in thyroid cancer cell growth and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway could be rescued by overexpression of CTNNB1 or addition of lithium chloride (LiCl). In conclusion, upregulation of OIP5-AS1 predicted unfavorable prognosis and enhanced thyroid cancer cell growth by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Keggin-type polyoxometalate/thiospinel octahedron heterostructures for photoelectronic devices

Keggin-type polyoxometalate CoW₁₂/CoIn₂S₄ thiospinel heterostructures promote the further development in photoelectronic devices due to highly efficient electrocatalytic triiodide reduction, low charge-transfer resistance, and the high amount of exposed active site.

Autonomic dysfunction as an independent risk factor for uncontrolled inflammation in chronic rhinosinusitis following functional endoscopic sinus surgery

BACKGROUND

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a multi-factorial disorder that causes systemic symptoms beyond rhinologic symptoms alone. A possible association between autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction and CRS has been identified; however, few studies have confirmed this observation. In this study, we prospectively measured changes in ANS dysfunction symptoms following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and explored the impact of ANS dysfunction on surgical outcomes of CRS.

METHODOLOGY

Patients diagnosed with CRS who consented to surgical intervention were included prospectively. All patients completed the Sino-nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) and the 31-item Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (COMPASS 31) questionnaires before the operation and during the follow-up period. Clinical demographic data, Lund-Mackay, and modified Lund-Kennedy scores were recorded and measured.

RESULTS

A total of 102 patients were enrolled. The median SNOT-22 and COMPASS 31 scores significantly improved following FESS from 43.0 to 14.0 and 21.0 to 11.2 (all P less than 0.001), respectively. FESS led to a significant reduction in the prevalence of various ANS dysfunction symptoms. In multivariate analyses, revision surgeries (odds ratio [OR] 5.012, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.52416.489; P=0.008), CRS with nasal polyps (OR 4.071, 95% CI 1.454-11.40; P=0.008), and higher Pre-FESS COMPASS 31 scores (OR 1.043, 95% CI 1.003-1.084; P=0.036) were independent risk factors for uncontrolled inflammation following FESS.

CONCLUSIONS

ANS dysfunction symptoms are prevalent in CRS and higher preoperative COMPASS 31 scores correspond with poor surgical outcomes. Following FESS, the majority of ANS dysfunction symptoms can be alleviated. Further investigations are required to explore the possible mechanism of how ANS is involved in the pathogenesis of CRS.

Revealing the Position Effect of an Alkylthio Side Chain in Phenyl-Substituted Benzodithiophene-Based Donor Polymers on the Photovoltaic Performance of Non-Fullerene Organic Solar Cells

In this work, position effects of an alkylthio side chain were investigated by designing and synthesizing two copolymers based on a phenyl-substituted benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene (BDTP) and difluorobenzotriazole (FTAZ). The polymer based on the meta-position-alkylthiolated BDTP, named m-PBDTPS-FTAZ, showed a relatively broader bandgap (2.00 vs 1.96 eV) and lower highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level (-5.40 vs -5.32 eV) than its para-positioned structural isomeric analogue polymer (named p-PBDTPS-FTAZ), that is, m- and p-PBDTPS-FTAZ with the side chain structured as ethylhexyl- in the phenyl unit and hexyldecyl- in the FTAZ moiety. When blended with ITIC, m-PBDTPS-FTAZ showed a comparable crystallinity but more uniform morphology compared to that of p-PBDTPS-FTAZ. A high power conversion efficiency of 13.16% was achieved for m-PBDTPS-FTAZ:ITIC devices with a high open circuit voltage (V_OC) of 0.95 V, which is higher than that of p-PBDTPS-FTAZ:ITIC devices (10.86%) with a V_OC of 0.89 V. Therefore, m-BDTPS could be an effective donor unit to construct high-efficiency polymers due to its effectively decreased HOMO energy level of polymers while still maintaining good molecular stacking.