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The one-pot synthesis of N-doped graphene quantum dots (GQDs), capped with a positively charged polyamine (trien), has been realized through a microwave-assisted pyrolysis on solid L-glutamic acid and trien in equimolar amounts. The resulting positively charged nanoparticles are strongly emissive in aqueous solutions and are stable for months. The interaction with the anionic tetrakis(4-sulphonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS4) has been investigated at neutral and mild acidic pH using a combination of UV/vis absorption spectroscopy together with static and time-resolved fluorescence emission. At pH = 7, the experimental evidence points to the formation of a supramolecular adduct mainly stabilized by electrostatic interactions. The fluorescence emission of the porphyrin is substantially quenched while GQDs remain still emissive. On decreasing the pH, protonation of TPPS4 leads to formation of porphyrin J-aggregates through the intermediacy of the charged quantum dots.

Water in membrane interphases is vital for cellular biological functions, but despite its importance, the structure and function of biological water remain elusive. Here, by studying the OH stretching mode in partially hydrated lipid multilayers by FTIR measurements, relevant information on the water structure near the surface with lipid membranes has been gathered. The water hydrogen bond network is highly perturbed in the first layers that are in contact with the lipid membrane, exhibiting strong deviations from tetrahedral symmetry and a significant number of defects, such as isolated water molecules and a large number of hydrogen-bonded water dimers in the interphase region. These findings support the hypothesis that water chains form in phospholipid membranes, and are involved in the proton transfer across lipid bilayers by phosphate groups of opposing lipids. Furthermore, we have determined that even at very low hydration levels, a small amount of water is embedded within the confined spaces of the hydrocarbon region of phospholipid bilayers, which could potentially contribute to the structural stability of the lipid membrane.

The last decade has witnessed the advance of metal halide perovskites as a promising low-cost and efficient class of light harvesters used in solar cells (SCs). Remarkably, the efficiency of lab-scale perovskite solar cells (PSCs) reached a power conversion efficiency of 25.5% in just ~10 years of research, rivalling the current record of 26.1% for Si-based PVs. To further boost the performances of PSCs, the use of 2D materials (such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides and transition metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides) has been proposed, thanks to their remarkable optoelectronic properties (that can be tuned with proper chemical composition engineering) and chemical stability. In particular, 2D materials have been demonstrated as promising candidates for (i) accelerating hot carrier transfer across the interfaces between the perovskite and the charge extraction layers; (ii) improving the crystallization of the perovskite layers (when used as additives in the precursor solution); (iii) favoring electronic bands alignment through tuning of the work function. In this mini-review, we discuss the physical mechanisms underlying the increased efficiency of 2D material-based PSCs, focusing on the three aforementioned effects.

Background/Objectives: Satisfaction among undergraduate nursing students plays a crucial role in student retention, helping to mitigate nursing shortages in the workforce, reduce academic costs, and uphold universities’ reputations. The Nursing Student Satisfaction Scale (NSSS) measures three theoretical domains: Professional Social Interaction, Curriculum and Teaching, and Learning Environment. Although the NSSS has demonstrated reliability and validity with respect to American nursing students, its psychometric properties have not been tested on a population of Italian nursing students. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the reliability and validity of the NSSS in regard to Italian nursing students. Methods: A multicenter observational study was conducted on undergraduate nursing students in Central Italy. A confirmatory approach was used to assess structural validity. The construct validity, internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and responsiveness to change of the NSSS were evaluated using correlation analyses, reliability coefficients, and measurement error determination. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor first-order structure of the NSSS as well as the presence of a single second-order factor. Reliability was adequate for all the coefficients computed (with values ranging from 0.924 to 0.974). Construct validity was supported. The measurement error was adequate. Conclusions: The NSSS exhibited robust measurement properties, confirming its validity and reliability as an instrument for assessing nursing student satisfaction in the Italian context. Furthermore, our results indicate that, after the translation and cultural adaptation of the scale, the construct of nursing student satisfaction remains consistent with the theoretical model.