Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) offer new possibilities to harvest solar energy by using non-toxic inexpensive materials. Since they can generally be produced on flexible substrates, several research groups investigated possibilities to integrate DSSCs in textile fabrics, either by coating full fabrics with the DSSC layer structure or by producing fiber-shaped DSSCs which were afterwards integrated into a textile fabric. Here we show a new approach, electrospinning all solid layers of the DSSC. We report on electrospinning the counter electrode with a graphite catalyst followed by a thin nonconductive barrier layer and preparing the front electrode by electrospinning semiconducting TiO 2 from a polymer solution dyed with natural dyes. Both electrodes were coated with a conductive polymer before the system was finally filled with a fluid electrolyte. While the efficiency is lower than for glass-based cells, possible problems such as short-circuits-which often occur in fiber-based DSSCs-did not occur in this proof-of-concept. Since graphite particles did not fully cover the counter electrode in this first study, and the typical bathochromic shift indicating adsorption of dye molecules on the TiO 2 layer was not observed, several ways are open to increase the efficiency in forthcoming studies.
Background: Combined treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II antagonists may be a more efficient therapy for cardiac failure than monotherapy with either drug. Objective: We compared the efficacy of the combination of cilazapril and valsartan to cilazapril as monotherapy in 46 patients with advanced heart failure of ischaemic aetiology. Methods: The design of the study is double blind, double dummy, with parallel groups. Diuretics and β-blockers were used as a basal therapy, and many patients were treated with digoxin, spironolactone and nitrates. Concomitant medication was left unchanged and patients were randomised in three groups: placebo (for test drugs), cilazapril, or a combination of cilazapril and valsartan. During 3 weeks, the test drugs were titrated upward, and the highest tolerated dose level was maintained for 6 weeks. At baseline and again at the end of the treatment, left ventricular ejection fraction and regional wall ventricular motility (echocardiography at rest and after pharmacological stress), exercise capacity, signs and symptoms of heart failure and brain natriuretic peptide levels were recorded. Results: Both treatments were well tolerated, however the effects of the combination were superior. Our results show that, in patients who are treated with β-blockers and diuretics, the combination of cilazapril and valsartan is more effective than cilazapril at the highest tolerated dosage in improving global and regional myocardial function both at rest and after stress, and in ameliorating cardiac symptoms and signs of heart failure. We think that the superior effect of the combination is related to a more effective anti-ischaemic effect.
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