The SAM layer which formed hydrogen-bonding to the methylammonium of the perovskite induced dipole moments at the interface, resulting in energy band bending and increased built-in voltage, and consequently, improved charge transfer of the PSC.

Solar energy conversion has emerged as an attractive pathway in the decomposition of hazardous organic pollutants. Herein, tridoped β-NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ ,Tm 3+ ,Gd 3+ upconversion (UC) nanorods were embedded in a carbon-doped mesostructured TiO 2 hybrid film using triblock copolymer P123 acting as a mesoporous template and carbon source. The photoactivity of our novel material was reflected in the degradation of nitrobenzene, as a representative organic waste. The broad-band absorption of our rationally designed UC nanorod-embedded C-doped TiO 2 in the UV to NIR range unveiled a remarkable increase in nitrobenzene degradation (83%) within 3 h compared with pristine TiO 2 (50%) upon light irradiation. These results establish for the first time a synergetic bridge between the effects of a creative photon trapping TiO 2 architecture, improved NIR light-harvesting efficiency upon UC nanorod incorporation, and a simultaneous decrease in the band gap energy and increased visible light absorption by C-doping of the oxide lattice. The resulting nanostructure was believed to favor efficient charge and energy transfer between the photocatalyst components and to reduce charge recombination. Our novel hybrid nanostructure and its underlined synthesis strategy reflect a promising route to improve solar energy utilization in environmental remediation and in a wide range of photocatalytic applications, e.g., water splitting, CO 2 reutilization, and production of fuels.

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Statin medications have been suggested for widespread use in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We studied the dose effectiveness and tolerability of pravastatin in SLE. We compared 41 SLE subjects in a two-month open-label dose-titration study of pravastatin to 22 SLE controls. Lipids, ALT, CPK, CRP, adverse effects were assessed. Linear mixed models assessed changes in lipids and CRP, comparing pravastatin subjects to controls. After 1 month of pravastatin 10 mg a day, total cholesterol decreased by 16% (+/-12.1%) and LDL by 24% (+/-17%), compared with 1.8% (+/-7.5%) and 2.6% (+/-8.6%) decreases in controls (P < 0.001). CRP did not decline. Glucocorticoids appeared to decrease pravastatin effectiveness. Serum CPK increased in one subject. Pravastatin reduced LDL and total cholesterol levels approximately the same degree observed in normal individuals, but the effect appeared blunted in those on modest doses of glucocorticoids and those with higher BMI.