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Multiple-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence materials have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation ultrahigh-definition displays due to their narrowband emission and triplet-harvesting capability. However, achieving optimal colour purity and device efficiency for blue multiple-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters has presented challenges. Here we demonstrate an effective approach to attain superior deep-blue molecules by constructing twisted-boron-/nitrogen-/oxygen-embedded higher-order fused-ring frameworks with fully resonating structures. The optimized emitter exhibits high rigidity and minimized bonding/antibonding character for ultrasharp emission, along with a small singlet–triplet gap and large spin–orbit couplings for rapid spin flip. This combination results in deep-blue emission at 458 nm with a narrow full-width at half-maximum of 12 nm in solution and a reverse intersystem crossing rate constant of 2.29 × 106 s−1, on par with those of heavy-atom-based multiple-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence molecules. The related single-unit organic light-emitting diode achieves an external quantum efficiency of 39.2% with colour coordinates of (0.141, 0.050) and a narrow full-width at half-maximum of 14 nm. Furthermore, a two-unit stacked tandem hyperfluorescence organic light-emitting diode achieves an ultrahigh external quantum efficiency of 74.5% with low efficiency roll-off at high luminance values. This performance represents a remarkable balance between efficiency and colour purity in the deep-blue region, marking an important step towards power-efficient ultrawide-colour-gamut displays. Highly twisted multi-boron-based multiple-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters enable deep-blue organic light-emitting diodes with high colour purity, a narrow full-width at half-maximum of 14 nm and a peak external quantum efficiency of 39.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the academic community generally paying attention to the role of emotional intelligence(EI) on entrepreneurial performance, there are no consistent conclusions on whether and how emotional intelligence affects entrepreneurial performance. Based on theories of planned behavior and social cognition, this study selects 190 independent samples (N = 52,195) related to emotional intelligence, entrepreneurial orientation, and entrepreneurial performance from mainstream academic journals in the field of entrepreneurial psychology as the subjects of this study. this study uses a combination of meta-analysis and structural equation model, with emotional intelligence as the independent variable and entrepreneurial orientation (including the three dimensions of innovativeness, proactivity, and risk-tolerance) as the mediating variable. The main findings are: (1) emotional intelligence positively affects entrepreneurial performance; (2) innovativeness plays an intermediary role in the effect of emotional intelligence on entrepreneurial performance; (3) proactivity plays an intermediary role between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial performance; (4) risk-tolerance does not mediate the effect of emotional intelligence on entrepreneurial performance; (5) proactivity and innovativeness mediate the chain between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial performance; (6) proactivity and risk-tolerance mediate the chain between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial performance.The conclusion of this study provides theoretical guidance for the correct understanding of the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial performance, and is of great significance for deepening the research depth of the mechanism of emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial performance, which is conducive to the development of entrepreneurial ventures and the realization of entrepreneurial success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a promising candidate for More Moore technology, InGaAs-based n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (nMOSFETs) have attracted growing research interest, especially with InGaAs-on-insulator (InGaAs-OI) configurations aimed at alleviating the short channel effects. Correspondingly, the fabrication of an ultrathin InGaAs body becomes necessary for the full depletion of the channel, while the deteriorated semiconductor–insulator interface-related scattering could severely limit carrier mobility. This work focuses on the exploration of carrier mobility enhancement strategies for 8 nm body-based InGaAs-OI nMOSFETs. With the introduction of a bottom gate bias on the substrate side, the conduction band structure in the channel was modified, relocating the carrier wave function from the InGaAs/Al2O3 interface into the body. Resultantly, the channel mobility with an inversion layer carrier concentration of 1 × 1013 cm−2 was increased by 62%, which benefits InGaAs-OI device application in monolithic 3D integration. The influence of the dual-gate bias from front gate and bottom gate on gate stability was also investigated, where it has been unveiled that the introduction of the positive bottom gate bias is also beneficial for gate stability with an alleviated orthogonal electric field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The solute carrier (SLC) superfamily, which transports solutes across biological membranes, includes four members (SLC2A1, SLC6A1, SLC9A64, and SLC35A2) that have been linked to epilepsy. This study sought to examine the DNA methylation patterns near the promoters of these genes in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), as DNA methylation is a crucial epigenetic modification that can impact gene expression. Methods: The study comprised 38 individuals with TLE and 38 healthy controls. Methylation experiments were performed using peripheral blood, while demethylation experiments were carried out using SH-SY5Y cells with the DNA methylation inhibitor decitabine. Results: A significant difference was observed in the DNA methylation rate of SLC6A1 between TLE patients and controls, with TLE patients showing a lower rate (4.81% vs. 5.77%, p = 0.0000), which remained significant even after Bonferroni correction (p = 0.0000). Based on the hypomethylated SLC6A1 in TLE, a predictive model was established that showed promise in distinguishing and calibrating TLE. In the TLE group, there were differences in DNA methylation rates of SLC6A1 between the young patients and the older controls (4.42% vs. 5.22%, p = 0.0004). A similar trend (p = 0.0436) was noted after adjusting for sex, age at onset, and drug response. In addition, the study found that DNA methylation had a silencing impact on the expression of the SLC6A1 gene in SH-SY5Y cells, which were treated with decitabine at a set dose gradient. Conclusions: The evidence suggests that lower methylation of SLC6A1 may stimulate transcription in TLE, however, further investigation is necessary to confirm the exact mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning‐assisted electromagnetic simulation has become an effective acceleration tool for designing microwave components by introducing high‐precision models and optimization algorithms, featuring fast design and high efficiency. However, enormous amount of data generated from the blind preliminary and computationally expensive simulation is required to predict the accuracy response. An efficient geometric parameter optimization method for microstrip bandpass filter (BPF) based on a one‐dimensional convolutional neural network is proposed. Nonlinear convergence factor, adaptive weight, and Gaussian difference mutation strategies are integrated using the whale optimization algorithm to avoid the local optimum and improve optimization accuracy. Computational efficiency is improved significantly with small‐scale training data. The validity and efficiency of the proposed method are confirmed by fifth‐order microstrip BPFs, and the performance of the predicted structure parameters is significantly improved, which shows great promise for application in optimization and performance improvement in microwave electromagnetic simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In order to reduce the damage caused by vibration of blades in service, high strength carbon fiber composite was used as blade matrix to study the vibration characteristics of blades. Based on vibration analysis theory, the vibration characteristics of carbon fiber composite blades were studied by ANSYS Workbench software in this paper. Firstly, Solidworks software was used to establish the blade high-fidelity model. Secondly, the natural frequencies and modes of free vibration of carbon fiber composite blades were obtained based on modal analysis, and the vibration response characteristics of blades were studied. Thirdly, different excitation forces were applied to the blade tips to obtain the vibration displacement responses of the blade tips in all directions. Finally, according to the natural frequencies of blades at different speeds, the Cambel diagram was drawn to obtain the vibration characteristics of carbon fiber composite blades. The results show that the main vibration form of the blade is bending vibration, and the frequencies corresponding to the amplitude peaks in all directions shift to the left with the increase of the excitation force. According to Campbell diagram, there are three resonance points in the working speed range of the blade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a polynomial primal-dual interior-point algorithm for linear optimization based on a modified logarithmic barrier kernel function. Iteration bounds for the large-update interior-point method and the small-update interior-point method are derived. It is shown that the large-update interior-point method has the same polynomial complexity as the small-update interior-point method, which is the best known iteration bounds. Our result closes a long-existing gap in the theoretical complexity bounds for large-update interior-point method and small-update interior-point method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonyl reductases are useful for producing optically active alcohols from their corresponding prochiral ketones. Herein, we applied a computer‐assisted strategy to increase the thermostability of a previously constructed carbonyl reductase, LsCRM4 (N101D/A117G/F147L/E145A), which showed an outstanding activity in the synthesis of the ticagrelor precursor (1S)‐2‐chloro‐1‐(3,4‐difluorophenyl)ethanol. The stability changes introduced by mutations at the flexible sites were predicted using the computational tools FoldX, I‐Mutant 3.0, and DeepDDG, which demonstrated that 12 virtually screened mutants could be thermally stable; 11 of these mutants exhibited increased thermostability. Then a superior mutant LsCRM4‐V99L/D150F was screened out from the library that was constructed by iteratively combining the beneficial sites, which showed a 78% increase in activity and a 17.4°C increase in melting temperature compared to LsCRM4. Our computer‐assisted design and combinatorial strategy dramatically increased the efficiency of thermostable enzyme production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Determination of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genotype is crucial in the stratification of diagnosis and prognostication in diffuse gliomas. We sought to build and validate radiomics models and clinical features incorporated nomogram for preoperative prediction of IDH mutation status and WHO grade of diffuse gliomas with l-[methyl-11C] methionine ([11C]MET) PET/CT imaging according to the 2016 WHO classification of tumors of the central nervous system. Methods: Consecutive 178 preoperative [11C]MET PET/CT images were retrospectively studied for radiomics analysis. One hundred six patients from PET scanner 1 were used as training dataset, and 72 patients from PET scanner 2 were used for validation dataset. [11C]MET PET and integrated CT radiomics features were extracted, respectively; three independent predictive models were built based on PET features, CT features, and combined PET/CT features, respectively. The SelectKBest method, Spearman correlation analysis, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression, and machine learning algorithms were applied for feature selection and model building. After filtering the satisfactory predictive model, key clinical features were incorporated for the nomogram establishment. Results: The combined [11C]MET PET/CT radiomics model, which consisted of four PET features and eight integrated CT features, was significantly associated with IDH genotype (p < 0.0001 for both training and validation datasets). Nomogram based on the [11C]MET PET/CT radiomics score, patients' age, and dichotomous tumor location status showed satisfactory discrimination capacity, and the AUC was 0.880 (95% CI, 0.726–0.998) in the training dataset and 0.866 (95% CI, 0.777–0.956) in the validation dataset. In IDH stratified WHO grade prediction, the final radiomics model consists of four PET features and two CT features had reasonable and stable differential efficacy of WHO grade II and III patients from grade IV patients in IDH-wildtype patients, and the AUC was 0.820 (95% CI, 0.541–1.000) in the training dataset and 0.766 (95% CI, 0.612–0.921) in the validation dataset. Conclusion: [11C]MET PET radiomics features could benefit non-invasive IDH genotype prediction, and integrated CT radiomics features could enhance the efficacy. Radiomics and clinical features incorporation could establish satisfactory nomogram for clinical application. This non-invasive predictive investigation based on our consecutive cohort from two PET scanners could provide the perspective to observe the differential efficacy and the stability of radiomics-based investigation in untreated diffuse gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: GABPB1, the gene that encodes two isoforms of the beta subunit of GABP, has been identified as an oncogene in multiple malignant tumors. However, the role and mode of action of GABPB1 in malignant tumors, especially in lung cancer, are not well understood and need further research. Methods: Our research focused on examining the biological function of GABPB1 in NSCLC (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer). We analysed tumor data from public databases to assess the expression of GABPB1 in NSCLC and its correlation with patient prognosis and investigated GABPB1 expression and methylation patterns in relation to the tumor microenvironment. In parallel, experiments were conducted using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to suppress the GABPB1 gene in human lung cancer cells to evaluate the effects on cell proliferation, viability, and apoptosis. Results: GABPB1 was widely expressed in various tissues of the human body. Compared to that in normal tissues, the expression of this gene was different in multiple tumor tissues. GABPB1 was highly expressed in lung cancer tissues and cell lines. Its expression was associated with molecular subtype and cellular signalling pathways, and a high level of GABPB1 expression was related to a poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma patients. The expression and methylation of GABPB1 affect the tumor microenvironment. After suppressing the expression of GABPB1 in both A549 and H1299 cells, we found a decrease in cell growth and expression, the formation of clones and an increase in the apoptosis rate. Conclusions: Our research verified that GABPB1 promotes the tumorigenesis of NSCLC and has an inhibitory effect on tumor immunity. The specific role of GABPB1 may vary among different pathological types of NSCLC. This molecule can serve as a prognostic indicator for lung adenocarcinoma, and its methylation may represent a potential breakthrough in treatment by altering the tumor immune microenvironment in lung squamous cell carcinoma. The role and mechanism of action of GABPB1 in NSCLC should be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the dynamic changes in anterior segment parameters during accommodation following Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) implantation with swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Methods: Under the accommodation of 0.00 diopters (D), 3.00 D, and maximum amplitude, SS-OCT was used to examine the anterior segment parameters, including ICL vault, ICL depth (the distance between the corneal endothelium and the posterior surface of ICL), crystalline lens thickness, anterior chamber depth, and various parameters of the anterior chamber angle, comprising angle opening distance, angle recess area, trabecular iris space area, and trabecular iris angle. Results: During accommodation, the ICL vault showed a significant decrease from baseline (536 ± 278 μm) to 3.00 D (522 ± 281 μm), followed by an increase from 3.00 D to maximum amplitude (548 ± 306 μm) (analysis of variance [ANOVA], P <.001). Four eyes (2.61%) exhibited a decrease in ICL vault to less than 100 μm (47 ± 32 μm) at maximum accommodation. The ICL depth decreased significantly as accommodation increased (ANOVA, P <.001). Crystalline lens thickness increased, whereas anterior chamber depth decreased during accommodation (ANOVA, P <.001). The anterior chamber angle widened during 3.00 D of accommodation but narrowed at maximum accommodation, leading to significant changes in the angle opening distance, angle recess area, trabecular iris space area, and trabecular iris angle during accommodation (ANOVA, P <.001 for all). Conclusions: The anterior segment, including ICL vault and anterior chamber angle, undergo significant dynamic changes during accommodation. These accommodative changes may require careful monitoring for the surgery design of ICL implantation. [J Refract Surg. 2024;40(3):e164–e172.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple‐resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR‐TADF) materials are highly coveted for their high efficiency and narrowband emission in organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). Nevertheless, the development of near‐infrared (NIR) MR‐TADF emitters remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we design two new NIR MR‐TADF emitters, PXZ−R−BN and BCz−R−BN, by embedding 10H‐phenoxazine (PXZ) and 7H‐dibenzo[c,g]carbazole (BCz) fragments to increase the electron‐donating ability or extending π‐conjugation on the framework of para‐boron fusing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Both compounds emit in the NIR region, with a full‐width at half‐maximum (FWHM) of 49 nm (0.13 eV) for PXZ−R−BN and 43 nm (0.11 eV) for BCz−R−BN in toluene. To sensitize the two NIR MR‐TADF emitters in OLEDs, a new platinum complex, Pt‐1, is designed as a sensitizer. The PXZ−R−BN‐based sensitized OLEDs achieve a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of nearly 30 % with an emission band at 693 nm, and exceptional long operational stability with an LT97 (time to 97 % of the initial luminance) value of 39084 h at an initial radiance of 1000 mW sr−1 m−2. The BCz−R−BN‐based OLEDs reach EQEmax values of 24.2 % with an emission band at 713 nm, which sets a record value for NIR OLEDs with emission bands beyond 700 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple‐resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR‐TADF) materials are highly coveted for their high efficiency and narrowband emission in organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs). Nevertheless, the development of near‐infrared (NIR) MR‐TADF emitters remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we design two new NIR MR‐TADF emitters, PXZ−R−BN and BCz−R−BN, by embedding 10H‐phenoxazine (PXZ) and 7H‐dibenzo[c,g]carbazole (BCz) fragments to increase the electron‐donating ability or extending π‐conjugation on the framework of para‐boron fusing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Both compounds emit in the NIR region, with a full‐width at half‐maximum (FWHM) of 49 nm (0.13 eV) for PXZ−R−BN and 43 nm (0.11 eV) for BCz−R−BN in toluene. To sensitize the two NIR MR‐TADF emitters in OLEDs, a new platinum complex, Pt‐1, is designed as a sensitizer. The PXZ−R−BN‐based sensitized OLEDs achieve a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of nearly 30 % with an emission band at 693 nm, and exceptional long operational stability with an LT97 (time to 97 % of the initial luminance) value of 39084 h at an initial radiance of 1000 mW sr−1 m−2. The BCz−R−BN‐based OLEDs reach EQEmax values of 24.2 % with an emission band at 713 nm, which sets a record value for NIR OLEDs with emission bands beyond 700 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rising burden of thyroid cancer (TC) is a public health problem in Asia. Predicting the future burden of TC in Asian countries is essential for disease prevention. Methods: Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 for five Asian countries. We applied Bayesian age-period-cohort models to predict morbidity and mortality to 2035 and calculated age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR). Furthermore, the estimated annual percentage change was calculated to evaluate the variation of ASIR and ASMR. Results: By 2035, predictions suggest that cases of TC will reach 75.56 x 10³ in China, 70.22 x 10³ in India, 15.78 x 103 in the Republic of Korea, 9.01 x 10³ in Japan and 5.55 x 10³ in Thailand, respectively. Except Japan, a significant upward trend of ASIR of TC will be observed in five Asian countries. The deaths from TC will increase in five countries and India will become the highest reaching 14.07 x 10³. The ASMR will rise to 0.83/100 000 in India and 1.06/100 000 in the Republic of Korea, while it will drop to 0.35/100 000 in China, 0.43/100 000 in Japan and 0.50/100 000 in Thailand. In further predictions projected by sex, the growth rate of ASIR is reported higher in males than in females among most countries. ASMR of male will exceed that of females in China and Thailand by 2035. Conclusion: The disease burden caused by TC will further increase in five Asian countries, especially for men. It is necessary to develop more rational and timely disease prevention and manage strategies facing this disease trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aldo‐keto reductases (AKRs) are important biocatalysts that can be used to synthesize chiral pharmaceutical alcohols. In this study, the catalytic activity and stereoselectivity of a NADPH‐dependent AKR from Kluyveromyces dobzhanskii (KdAKR) toward t‐butyl 6‐chloro (5S)‐hydroxy‐3‐oxohexanoate ((5S)‐CHOH) were improved by mutating its residues in the loop regions around the substrate‐binding pocket. And the thermostability of KdAKR was improved by a consensus sequence method targeted on the flexible regions. The best mutant M6 (Y28A/L58I/I63L/G223P/Y296W/W297H) exhibited a 67‐fold higher catalytic efficiency compared to the wild‐type (WT) KdAKR, and improved R‐selectivity toward (5S)‐CHOH (dep value from 47.6% to >99.5%). Moreover, M6 exhibited a 6.3‐fold increase in half‐life (t1/2) at 40°C compared to WT. Under the optimal conditions, M6 completely converted 200 g/L (5S)‐CHOH to diastereomeric pure t‐butyl 6‐chloro‐(3R, 5S)‐dihydroxyhexanoate ((3R, 5S)‐CDHH) within 8.0 h, with a space‐time yield of 300.7 g/L/day. Our results deepen the understandings of the structure−function relationship of AKRs, providing a certain guidance for the modification of other AKRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently the ever‐increasing demand for wearable electronics has greatly triggered the development of flexible strain sensors. However, it is still challenging to simultaneously achieve high sensitivity, wide working range, and good wearability. Herein, we developed a highly stretchable fiber strain sensor based on wet‐spun porous polyurethane (PU) fiber, and especially a unique conductive network of dual silver (Ag)/carbon black (CB) layers is constructed. Under strain, the rapid crack propagation on the brittle Ag layer brings a large resistance change and thus high sensitivity, while the tunneling‐effect dominated CB layer bridges the separated Ag islands to maintain the integrity of conductive pathways under large strain. By means of the synergistic effect of Ag/CB layers, this composite fiber of Ag/CB@PU presents not only high conductivity of 5139.9 S/m, but also ultrahigh sensitivity with a gauge factor of 2.52 × 106 and a wide working range of up to 200%. Besides that, it is also capable of detecting very tiny strain of 0.1% and working stably for over 8000 cycles. Using mature weaving technology, this fiber strain sensor can be seamlessly integrated into the textile to conformally track different movements of the human body. Together with the facile all‐solution‐based fabrication protocol, this work proposed a new strategy to prepare high‐performance fiber strain sensor, promising the textile‐based wearable applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oral cavity is the second most microbially rich region of the human body, and many studies have shown that there is a strong association between microorganisms and oral health. Some pathogenic bacteria produce biofilms and harmful metabolites in the mouth that may cause oral problems such as oral malodor, periodontitis, and dental caries. Altering the oral microbiota by using probiotics may alleviate oral health problems. Thus, using multi-function screening, we aimed to identify probiotics that can significantly improve oral health. The main parameters were the inhibition of pathogenic bacteria growth, inhibition of biofilm formation, reduction in the production of indole, H2S, and NH3 metabolites that cause halitosis, increase in the production of H2O2 to combat harmful bacteria, and co-aggregation with pathogens to prevent their adhesion and colonization in the oral cavity. Tolerance to cholic acid and choline was also assessed. Bifidobacterium animalis ZK-77, Lactobacillus salivarius ZK-88, and Streptococcus salivarius ZK-102 had antibacterial activity and inhibited biofilm production to prevent caries. They also improved the oral malodor parameter, H2S, NH3, and indole production. The selected probiotics (especially L. salivarius ZK-88) alleviated the inflammation in the oral cavity of rats with periodontitis. The analysis of the gingival crevicular fluid microbiome after probiotic intervention showed that B. animalis ZK-77 likely helped to restore the oral microbiota and maintain the oral microecology. Next, we determined the best prebiotics for each candidate probiotic in order to obtain a formulation with improved effects. We then verified that a probiotics/prebiotic combination (B. animalis ZK-77, L. salivarius ZK-88, and fructooligosaccharides) significantly improved halitosis and teeth color in cats. Using whole-genome sequencing and acute toxicity mouse experiments involving the two probiotics, we found that neither probiotic had virulence genes and they had no significant effects on the growth or development of mice, indicating their safety. Taking the results together, B. animalis ZK-77 and L. salivarius ZK-88 can improve oral health, as verified by in vivo and in vitro experiments. This study provides a reference for clinical research and also provides new evidence for the oral health benefits of probiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: To evaluate the efficacy of conjunctival limbal autograft (CLAU) combined with the amnion-assisted conjunctival epithelial redirection (ACER) procedure for patients with unilateral total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) caused by severe chemical burn. (2) Methods: A retrospective interventional case series of unilateral total LSCD after chemical burn who underwent CLAU combined with ACER surgery between September 2021 and July 2023 was collected. Outcome measures included epithelialization of the cornea with donor limbus-derived epithelium, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and complications. (3) Results: Nine males and one female were included in this study. The mean age was 40.9 ± 9.63 (range, 26 to 55) years. The average duration between injury and CLAU combined with the ACER procedure was 7.67 ± 3.97 (range, 4 to 18) months. All patients achieved corneal epithelialization and improved BCVA. Postoperative complications occurred in four cases, including delayed corneal epithelial healing in one case, delayed amniotic membrane dissolution and detachment in two cases, and recurrence of symblepharon in one case. No complications were noted in the healthy donor eyes. (4) Conclusions: CLAU combined with ACER is a safe and effective treatment for unilateral total LSCD caused by severe chemical burn. This combined surgery restores visual function for patients with corneal blindness caused by chemical burn, reducing the burden on the families and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flame-retardant (FR) workwear with good flame/heat protection and washing durability is significant in various fields like petrochemical industry, and there are fast growing needs and new requirements to develop FR yarns with superior flame-resistance, high strength, low hairiness and reasonable cost. However, current aramid or FR viscose yarns cannot well meet these requirements. Herein, by using a cost-effective mid-length fiber vortex yarn technology, this work developed a newly FR viscose/meta-aramid blended yarn with enhanced mechanical properties and flame-resistance, including tensile strength up to 14.4 cN/tex, elongation up to 7.8%, hairiness S3 value as low as 40, and limiting oxygen index value as high as 39.6%. The unique yarn structure of wrapped fiber-sheath and straight fiber-core was studied in terms of twist angle, twist factor, and core ratio in the yarn. Moreover, spinning trials were conducted to systematically learn influences of fiber proportion and spinning parameters, and a statistical model was established by response surface methodology to predict the structure and properties of blended yarn under certain FR viscose/aramid fiber ratio and spinning parameters, which can serve as a guide to manipulate the yarn properties as well as minimizing the fiber cost. This study proposes a cost-effective method to develop high-performance FR blended yarns, which will greatly promote the development of high value-added FR textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three novel metal-free organic dyes (TPTZ1, TPTZ2, and TPTZ3) with an A–D–π–D–A configuration were synthesized and applied for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The relationship between the photovoltaic properties and the different connection bridges of these organic dyes was studied systematically, showing that a strategical variation on the linkage ways of dithiophene can obviously affect the twisted degree of backbone and, thus, have a great effect on inhibiting the intermolecular aggregation. Compared with a bulky rigid group substituted on TPTZ3, introducing flexible side chains at suitable sites on the TPTZ1 and TPTZ2 seems to be a more effective strategy to achieve high photoelectric performance for double anchoring dye. Indeed, the DSSCs based on TPTZ2 exhibit a high efficiency of 7.50%, reaching 99% of an N719-based standard cell at the same condition. This study provides a new approach for highly efficient anti-aggregation organic sensitizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensing fabrics have received great attention due to various applications in medical area, healthcare, and smart clothes. However, there are very few studies on sensing fabrics that can be used to monitor the pressure of compression garments. In this study, a pressure exerting and sensing fabric is fabricated by interweaving highly sensitive yarn sensor into woven fabric using industrial‐scale weaving technology. By using a new method for measuring the pressure sensing capabilities under external stresses from a curved surface, effects of fabric structure and operation mode on the pressure and electromechanical properties are evaluated. New fabric structures are proposed to deliberately arrange the yarn sensing elements in a less‐ or even non‐binding form within the fabric for good elasticity and sensing properties. Arising from the appropriate material selection and structure feature, the sensing fabric realizes a suitable and stable amount of induced pressure as well as very low stress relaxation. Consequently, the sensing fabric with sateen structure demonstrates very good pressure sensing performance with sensitivity of 1.22 kPa−1, low hysteresis error of 8.06%, and linearity of 0.98 in the desired pressure range from 0.58 to 3.83 kPa. Furthermore, the fabric exhibits excellent stability over 4500 pressing cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonyl reductase (CR)‐catalyzed bioreduction in the organic phase and the neat substrate reaction system is a lasting challenge, placing higher requirements on the performance of enzymes. Protein engineering is an effective method to enhance the properties of enzymes for industrial applications. In the present work, a single point mutation E145A on our previously constructed CR mutant LsCRM3, coevolved thermostability, and activity. Compared with LsCRM3, the catalytic efficiency kcat/KM of LsCRM3‐E145A (LsCRM4) was increased from 6.6 to 21.9 s−1 mM−1. Moreover, E145A prolonged the half‐life t1/2 at 40°C from 4.1 to 117 h, Tm ${T}_{m}$ was increased by 5°C, T5030 ${T}_{50}^{30}$ was increased by 14.6°C, and Topt was increased by 15°C. Only 1 g/L of lyophilized Escherichia coli cells expressing LsCRM4 completely reduced up to 600 g/L 2‐chloro‐1‐(3,4‐difluorophenyl)ethanone (CFPO) within 13 h at 45°C, yielding the corresponding (1S)‐2‐chloro‐1‐(3,4‐difluorophenyl)ethanol ((S)‐CFPL) in 99.5% eeP, with a space‐time yield of 1.0 kg/L d, the substrate to catalyst ratios (S/C) of 600 g/g. Compared with LsCRM3, the substrate loading was increased by 50%, with the S/C increased by 14 times. Compared with LsCRWT, the substrate loading was increased by 6.5 times. In contrast, LsCRM4 completely converted 600 g/L CFPO within 12 h in the neat substrate bioreaction system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC), the prognostic relevance of p16INK4a (p16) expression has been reported rarely. This study aims to examine the immunohistochemical expression of p16 and investigate the possibility of p16 as a prognostic factor for SNSCC. The medical records of 173 individuals with SNSCC between 2010 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The researchers examined patients' demographics, p16 status, staging, tumor histological subtypes, treatment details, recurrence, metastasis, and survival outcomes. p16 was found in 22.0% (38/173) of SNSCC patients, and there was no difference between inverted papilloma-SNSCC (19.6%) and de novo SNSCC (23.0%). p16 status did not correlate with all the cases' age, gender, clinical stage, or therapy features. p16-positive patients had a considerably superior 5-year overall survival (OS) rate (80.7% vs. 57.5%, p=0.039) and a slight tendency in progression-free survival (PFS) rate (68.1% vs. 52.0%, p=0.15), except in stage T4b cases. In maxillary sinus lesions, p16-positive SNSCC had a better 5-year OS (87.4% vs. 49.2%, p=0.03) rate and PFS (79.1% vs. 40.7%, p=0.01) rate than p16-negative SNSCC. Among patients without skull base involvement (82.9% vs. 57.7%, p=0.037) or orbital invasion (86.9% vs. 57.3%, p=0.02), p16-positive SNSCC confers benefits in OS rates more than p16-negative SNSCC. Immunohistochemical p16 expression may be a predictive predictor in individuals with maxillary sinus SCC, non-T4b stage, without skull base involvement, and without orbital invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low anodic oxidation potential severely suppresses the output voltage (≤ 0.6 V) of MXene-based symmetrical aqueous micro-supercapacitors (MSA-MSCs) employing acidic electrolytes. Herein, a surface terminals reconstruction mechanism on cathode of MSA-MSCs adopting aqueous neutral electrolyte (1 M Na2SO4) is first revealed by systematical electrochemical experiments and in/ex-situ spectral analysis, which indicates that: the -O terminals on Ti3C2Tx flakes of cathode can combine with intercalated Na+ cations during charging process to reconstruct into -ONa units to (i) inhibit the splitting reaction of adjacent water molecules, decreasing cathodic hydrogen evolution potential, and more significantly, (ii) lower the potential of zero voltage (P0V) between the symmetrical electrodes to avoid anode oxidation, enabling full use of the unexploited potential range of cathode. Thus, the output voltage of the MSA-MSCs tremendously expanded from 0.6 V in acidic polyacrylamide (PAM)/1 M H2SO4 hydrogel electrolyte to 1.5 V in neutral polyacrylamide/1 M Na2SO4 hydrogel electrolyte, boosting the corresponding areal energy density from 9.9 to 34.6 µW·h·cm−2. The demonstrated deep insight on the surface terminals reconstruction mechanism for synchronously modulating the P0V between symmetrical electrodes and hydrogen evolution potential on cathode provides critical guidance for widening the cell voltage of MSA-MSCs with safer and more inexpensive neutral electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), the first-line anti-glaucoma medication, can cause the deepening of the upper eyelid sulcus due to orbital lipoatrophy. However, the pathogenesis of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) involves the excessive adipogenesis of the orbital tissues. The present study aimed to determine the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of PGF2α on adipocyte differentiation. In this study primary cultures of orbital fibroblasts (OFs) from six patients with GO were established. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting (WB) were used to evaluated the expression of the F-prostanoid receptor (FPR) in the orbital adipose tissues and the OFs of GO patients. The OFs were induced to differentiate into adipocytes and treated with different incubation times and concentrations of PGF2α. The results of Oil red O staining showed that the number and size of the lipid droplets decreased with increasing concentrations of PGF2α and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and WB of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and fatty-acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), both adipogenic markers, were significantly downregulated via PGF2α treatment. Additionally, we found the adipogenesis induction of OFs promoted ERK phosphorylation, whereas PGF2α further induced ERK phosphorylation. We used Ebopiprant (FPR antagonist) to interfere with PGF2α binding to the FPR and U0126, an Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK) inhibitor, to inhibit ERK phosphorylation. The results of Oil red O staining and expression of adipogenic markers showed that blocking the receptor binding or decreasing the phosphorylation state of the ERK both alleviate the inhibitory effect of PGF2a on the OFs adipogenesis. Overall, PGF2α mediated the inhibitory effect of the OFs adipogenesis through the hyperactivation of ERK phosphorylation via coupling with the FPR. Our study provides a further theoretical reference for the potential application of PGF2α in patients with GO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of energy‐harvesting fabrics, woven structured textile‐based triboelectric nanogenerators (T‐TENGs) are widely proposed. However, most T‐TENGs with woven structures consist of one material, which greatly limits the functionality of T‐TENGs. This work focuses on structural design and rational material configuration to realize versatility of woven‐structured T‐TENG by a green, eco‐friendly, scalable production method. A 3D triboelectric nanogenerator fabric (3D SP‐FTENG) is proposed, which performs excellent electrical output (27.33 V, 1.76 µA, and 61.6 mW m−2) and wearability (directional water transport and breathability) as well as antibacterial activity. Moreover, in contrast to the previously reported multilayer T‐TENGs which are constructed by directly stacking multilayer functional fabrics together, the fabric interface of this new structure fabricated by weaving the support area and the functional area together is not easily delaminated. The 3D SP‐FTENG demonstrates outstanding durability (machine washability and ultrahigh abrasion resistance). In addition, the SP‐FTENG is able to drive wearable electronics and be used as a self‐powered sensor, such as constantly monitoring the movement signals of human body. This study presents a novel and sustainable strategy for the development of eco‐friendly multifunctional T‐TENGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: TAP1 is an immunomodulation-related protein that plays different roles in various malignancies. This study investigated the transcriptional expression profile of TAP1 in uveal melanoma (UVM), revealed its potential biological interaction network, and determined its prognostic value. Methods: CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE bioinformatic methods were used on data sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA) to determine the correlation between TAP1 expression, UVM prognosis, biological characteristics, and immune infiltration. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to discover the signaling pathways associated with TAP1, while STRING database and CytoHubba were used to construct protein–protein interaction (PPI) and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks, respectively. An overall survival (OS) prognostic model was constructed to test the predictive efficacy of TAP1, and its effect on the in vitro proliferation activity and metastatic potential of UVM cell line C918 cells was verified by RNA interference. Results: There was a clear association between TAP1 expression and UVM patient prognosis. Upregulated TAP1 was strongly associated with a shorter survival time, higher likelihood of metastasis, and higher mortality outcomes. According to GSEA analysis, various immunity-related signaling pathways such as primary immunodeficiency were enriched in the presence of elevated TAP1 expression. A PPI network and a ceRNA network were constructed to show the interactions among mRNAs, miRNAs, and lncRNAs. Furthermore, TAP1 expression showed a significant positive correlation with immunoscore, stromal score, CD8+ T cells, and dendritic cells, whereas the correlation with B cells and neutrophils was negative. The Cox regression model and calibration plots confirmed a strong agreement between the estimated OS and actual observed patient values. In vitro silencing of TAP1 expression in C918 cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation and metastasis. Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate that TAP1 expression is positively correlated with clinicopathological factors and poor prognosis in UVM. In vitro experiments also verified that TAP1 is associated with C918 cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. These results suggest that TAP1 may function as an oncogene, prognostic marker, and importantly, as a novel therapeutic target in patients with UVM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: TAP1 is an immunomodulation-related protein that plays different roles in various malignancies. This study investigated the transcriptional expression profile of TAP1 in uveal melanoma (UVM), revealed its potential biological interaction network, and determined its prognostic value. Methods: CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE bioinformatic methods were used on data sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA) to determine the correlation between TAP1 expression, UVM prognosis, biological characteristics, and immune infiltration. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to discover the signaling pathways associated with TAP1, while STRING database and CytoHubba were used to construct protein–protein interaction (PPI) and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks, respectively. An overall survival (OS) prognostic model was constructed to test the predictive efficacy of TAP1, and its effect on the in vitro proliferation activity and metastatic potential of UVM cell line C918 cells was verified by RNA interference. Results: There was a clear association between TAP1 expression and UVM patient prognosis. Upregulated TAP1 was strongly associated with a shorter survival time, higher likelihood of metastasis, and higher mortality outcomes. According to GSEA analysis, various immunity-related signaling pathways such as primary immunodeficiency were enriched in the presence of elevated TAP1 expression. A PPI network and a ceRNA network were constructed to show the interactions among mRNAs, miRNAs, and lncRNAs. Furthermore, TAP1 expression showed a significant positive correlation with immunoscore, stromal score, CD8+ T cells, and dendritic cells, whereas the correlation with B cells and neutrophils was negative. The Cox regression model and calibration plots confirmed a strong agreement between the estimated OS and actual observed patient values. In vitro silencing of TAP1 expression in C918 cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation and metastasis. Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate that TAP1 expression is positively correlated with clinicopathological factors and poor prognosis in UVM. In vitro experiments also verified that TAP1 is associated with C918 cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. These results suggest that TAP1 may function as an oncogene, prognostic marker, and importantly, as a novel therapeutic target in patients with UVM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of in vitro culture and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in patients with fungal keratitis (FK) presented in a tertiary referral hospital in central China. Methods: In this noncomparative retrospective study, patients with the diagnosis of FK between October 2021 and November 2022 were reviewed. An IVCM and fungal culture (corneal scraping specimens) were performed, and the characteristics were analyzed. Results: During October 2021 and November 2022, 85 patients were diagnosed with FK. From 63 culture-positive cases, 8 species of fungus were identified. The proportions of isolated fungal species were Fusarium and Aspergillus equally accounting for 33.3% (21 of 63), Alternaria 9.5% (6 of 63), Curvularia 6.3% (4 of 63), Scedosporium apiospermum 6.3% (4 of 63), Paecilomyces lilacinus 3.2% (2 of 63), Exserohilum 3.2% (2 of 63), and Candida 4.8% (3 of 63), respectively. In positive culture cases, IVCM was found to be positive for hyphae or spores in 61 of 63 patients (96.8%). Different fungal species had a variety of cultural characteristics and IVCM manifestations. Conclusions: In a tertiary referral hospital in central China, Fusarium species, Aspergillus species, and Alternaria species were the 3 most common isolated fungal pathogens, and the proportion of Aspergillus species was significantly higher than that in other regions of China. Careful lesion depth examination by IVCM and OCT should be taken before lamellar keratoplasty to avoid postoperative recurrence. Identifying the IVCM image and culture characteristics will facilitate rapid diagnosis and proper treatment, but IVCM cannot yet replace fungal cultures to distinguish between different fungal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blepharospasm patients often have dry eye manifestations. Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) injection has been the main management for blepharospasm and absorbable punctal plug (APP) insertion is shown to be effective in the treatment of dry eye. However, there have been no studies investigating the combined treatment of BoNT-A and APP in blepharospasm patients with dry eye. In this retrospective study, 17 blepharospasm patients with dry eye treated by BoNT-A injection and 12 receiving BoNT-A plus APP treatment were enrolled. The efficacy was evaluated according to the Jankovic rating scale, Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), fluorescein staining (FL), fluorescein tear break-up time (FBUT) and Schirmer I test (SIT). Both BoNT-A and BoNT-A+APP treatment effectively reduced the functional impairment of blepharospasm. At baseline, all the patients had high OSDI scores (BoNT-A group: 82.48 ± 7.37, BoNT-A+APP group: 78.82 ± 4.60, p = 0.112), but relatively low degrees of FL (BoNT-A group: 3.18 ± 1.01, BoNT-A+APP group: 3.50 ± 1.24, p = 0.466), FBUT (BoNT-A group: 1.71 ± 0.77, BoNT-A+APP group: 2.17 ± 0.58, p = 0.077) and SIT (BoNT-A group: 2.53 ± 0.99, BoNT-A+APP group: 3.17 ± 1.23, p = 0.153). After treatment, OSDI, FL, FBUT and SIT were all obviously restored in the two groups. When comparing the changing rates, only OSDI (BoNT-A group: −52.23% ± 15.57%, BoNT-A+APP group: −61.84% ± 9.10%, p = 0.047) and FL (BoNT-A group: −22.55% ± 25.98%, BoNT-A+APP group: −41.94% ± 14.46%, p = 0.016) showed significant differences between the two groups. This study suggests that OSDI is not applicable in the diagnosis of dry eye among blepharospasm patients. For blepharospasm patients with severe dry eye symptoms, especially those with fluorescein staining in the cornea, the combined treatment of BoNT-A and APP is more effective than using BoNT-A alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence state of groundwater in a karst area has a significant impact on the tunnel lining structure. The impact on the groundwater is more significant during construction. This paper used numerical simulation to study the grouting reinforcement range of the Liaoshan Tunnel. This was based on the critical water rich height. Under Grade IV and Grade V surrounding rock, the critical points of grouting reinforcement were 230 m and 240 m deep, respectively. The vertical and horizontal stress and seepage flow of the tunnel arch crown and invert decreased as the circumferential grouting reinforcement range increased. In the case of no grouting reinforcement, 1/4 circumferential grouting reinforcement, 1/2 circumferential grouting reinforcement, and all circumferential grouting reinforcement, the seepage flow was 7 m3/dm, 4 m3/dm, 3 m3/dm, and 0 m3/dm, respectively. With Grade V surrounding rock, when the groundwater level was 260–270 m away from the tunnel arch crown, two schemes could be adopted: 1 m radial grouting reinforcement and 1/2 circumferential grouting reinforcement. The results have guiding significance for developing a construction scheme of a karst water rich tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of Sandwich (Amnion/Conjunctival-Limbal Autograft/Amnion) transplantation for recurrent pterygium with restrictive strabismus. (2) Methods: This retrospective study included 11 eyes in 11 patients diagnosed with recurrent pterygium with restrictive strabismus who received sandwich transplantation. The outcomes were measured by pterygium recurrence, best-corrected visual acuity, esotropia (prism diopters), and treatment complications. (3) Results: Eleven patients (six males, five females) had a mean age of 60.5 (range 36–80) years. The previously received pterygium excision surgery number was 1.8 ± 1.02 (range 1–4). The mean follow-up period was 19.9 ± 8.41 (range 12–36) months. All patients had a restriction of abduction in the previously operated eye, causing esotropia in the primary position. Pre-operative esotropia was 17.2 (range 10–30) prims diopter (PD). Five eyes (45.5%) had symblepharon before surgery. All patients were orthotropic until the last follow-up. Symblepharon was released in all eyes. Free ocular motility was present in all eyes. No donor site scar formation, scleral melt, or corneal ulcer was noted. (4) Conclusions: Sandwich transplantation for recurrent pterygium with restrictive strabismus is safe and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic light emitters based on multiresonance-induced thermally activated delayed fluorescent materials have great potential for realizing efficient, narrowband organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, at high brightness operation, efficiency roll-off attributed to the slow reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) process hinders the use of multiresonance-induced thermally activated delayed fluorescent materials in practical applications. Here we report a heavy-atom incorporating emitter, BNSeSe, which is based on a selenium-integrated boron–nitrogen skeleton and exhibits 100% photoluminescence quantum yield and a high RISC rate (kRISC) of 2.0 × 106 s−1. The corresponding green OLEDs exhibit excellent external quantum efficiencies of up to 36.8% and ultra-low roll-off character at high brightnesses (with very small roll-off values of 2.8% and 14.9% at 1,000 cd m−2 and 10,000 cd m−2, respectively). Furthermore, the outstanding capability to harvest triplet excitons also enables BNSeSe to be a superior sensitizer for a hyperfluorescence OLED, which shows state-of-the-art performance with a high excellent external quantum efficiency of 40.5%, power efficiency beyond 200 lm W−1, and luminance close to 20,0000 cd m−2. Green OLEDs based on BNSeSe offer high operational efficiency and reduced efficiency roll-off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable poly(lactic acid) multifilaments are a new type of biodegradable fibers that have gained increasing attention in textile product development. However, low moisture management performance has hindered their application in high added-value textile products such as functional garments and sportswear. In this work, profiled poly(lactic acid) multifilaments with "+" cross-section and "Y" cross-section were developed by the melt spinning process in order to improve their moisture management properties. The cross-sectional and longitudinal morphologies of the produced profiled poly(lactic acid) multifilaments were first examined and their non-circularity degrees were calculated. The moisture-absorbing and fast-drying properties of both the poly(lactic acid) multifilaments and knitted fabrics, including vertical wicking, in-plane wicking, water absorption and evaporation, and water vapor transmission were then evaluated, and the effects of fiber cross-section shape and yarn texturing were analyzed. The results show that the moisture management performances of the knitted fabrics made with profiled poly(lactic acid) multifilaments are significantly improved when compared with those of the fabric made with circular cross-section poly(lactic acid) multifilaments. The results also show that moisture management performances of the knitted fabrics made with profiled poly(lactic acid) multifilaments are comparable or even better than those of the fabrics made of polyester multifilaments. The study suggests that poly(lactic acid) fibers can be applied for the development of textile products with high added value and substitute the large amounts of petroleum-based PET fiber in apparel end-use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compatible fabrication technology for integrating InGaAs nMOSFETs and Ge pMOSFETs is developed based on the development of the two-step gate oxide fabrication strategy. The direct wafer bonding method was utilized to obtain the InGaAs-Insulator-Ge structure, providing the heterogeneous channels for CMOS integration. Superior transistor characteristics were achieved by optimizing the InGaAs gate oxide with a self-cleaning process in atomic layer deposition, and modifying the Ge gate oxide by the ozone post oxidation (OPO) technique, in the sequential two-step gate oxide fabrication process. With the combination of the gate-first fabrication process, superior on- and off-state characteristics, i.e., on current up to 8.3 µA/μm and leakage as low as 10−6 µA/μm, have been demonstrated in the integrated MOSFETs, together with the preferable symmetric output characteristics that promises excellent CMOS performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CKD is a clinical syndrome with slow development and gradual deterioration of renal function. At present, modern medicine still lacks an ideal treatment method for this disease, while TCM has accumulated rich clinical experience in the treatment of CKD, which can effectively improve renal function and delay renal failure, and has unique advantages. RC is widely used in clinical practice to treat CKD, especially the "Kidney-Yin" deficiency syndrome. However, the compatibility mechanisms responsible for its effects in experimental studies, including preclinical and clinical research studies, are still not fully understood. Adenine-induced CKD rats were used to investigate the preventive effect of RC on CKD rats. Based on the high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing results from Illumina, we discussed the intestinal flora abundance in rats in different treatment groups. According to a PCA and a PCoA based on a distance matrix, there was a clear separation of gut microbiome profiles between normal rats and model rats in terms of beta diversity. The abundance of Firmicutes in CKD rats was relatively increased, while that of Bacteroidetes was decreased. It is clear that the plot for the RC group was closer to that of the normal group, suggesting that the RC group had higher similarities among bacterial members with N rats. Ussing chamber, Western blot, and PCR assays were used to investigate the effects of RC on intestinal barrier function and its molecular mechanism in model animals. The results indicated that the protein expressions of ZO-1, claudin-1, and occludin-1 were decreased significantly in chronic kidney disease rats with the induction of adenine. With the treatment of RG, CO, and RC, the intestinal barrier was repaired due to the upregulated expressions of the aforementioned proteins in CKD rats. Based on our findings, RC appears to strengthen the intestinal barrier and modulate gut microbiota in adenineinduced CKD rats. This project revealed the compatibility mechanism of RC in regulating the intestinal microecology and barrier function to intervene in CKD and provided the basis and ideas for the clinical application of RC and the development of innovative drugs for CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan fiber possesses inherent advantages, such as excellent biocompatibility, nontoxicity as well as antibacterial property. However, there is no systematic study on the chitosan fiber blending effect with other fibers, and on that basis, there is no suitable fiber blending technology for yarn and fabric production, which results in the incorrect proportion of chitosan fiber blended with other fiber type and thus lowers the fabric functionality as well as increases the material cost. In this study, thirteen chitosan blended yarns were designed and developed. Blending yarn structure was examined and the effects of blending fiber type and ratio on the antibacterial and physical property were firstly investigated. The experimental results show that the inhibition rate rises with the increase of the chitosan blending ratio. The polyester/cotton/chitosan and tencel/chitosan yarns have a better inhibition rate of Staphylococcus than that of the cotton/chitosan yarn, indicating that the blending fiber type has an impact on antibacterial properties. Moreover, various chitosan blended knitted fabrics were produced by using the chitosan blended yarns developed and their antibacterial, physical properties and comfort as well as anti-mite activity were evaluated. The results illustrate that the knitted fabrics with a small amount of chitosan fibers exhibit excellent antibacterial properties and desirable comfort. Furthermore, the chitosan blended fabrics present the anti-mites effect. This work would contribute to lowering the material cost of functional yarns and promoting the development of antibacterial textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing a feasible strategy to realize thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters with high efficiency and tunable emission colors is essential for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In this study, based on a rigid planar acceptor of 2,12-di-tert-butyl-5,9-dioxa-13b-boranaphtho[3,2,1-de]anthracene and phenoxazine-derived donors, two new TADF emitters, namely PXZBO1 and PXZBO2, featuring tunable emission were designed and prepared for highly efficient OLEDs. The donor engineering by attaching additional electron-donating tert-butyldiphenylamine groups to the donor of PXZBO1 successfully results in PXZBO2 with significantly redshifted emission. PXZBO1 and PXZBO2 are characterized by highly twisted molecular structures to achieve a very small singlet–triplet splitting of 0.01 eV and enable efficient TADF, with high photoluminescence quantum yields of over 94% and fast reverse intersystem crossing rates of over 106 s−1 in doped films. As a result, TADF OLEDs using PXZBO1 and PXZBO2 as emitters achieved maximum external quantum efficiencies of 25.9% and 29.7%, peaking at 503 and 563 nm, respectively, with roll-off efficiencies of only ∼11% at a luminance of 1000 cd m−2. The excellent device performance renders PXZBO2 one of the most efficient yellow TADF emitters ever reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blue multi‐resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence materials, simultaneously realizing narrow full‐width at half‐maximum, high external quantum efficiency (EQE), and low efficiency roll‐off, remains a formidable challenge. Herein, three novel emitters, namely PTZBN1, PTZBN2, and PTZBN3, are designed by gradual peripheral modification in boron/nitrogen (B/N) embedded polycyclic skeleton, which exhibit progressively hypsochromic‐shifted emission from 490 nm (PTZBN1) to 468 nm (PTZBN3) with photoluminescence quantum yields up to 98%. In particular, the incorporation of sulfone unit in the boron/nitrogen (B/N) embedded polycyclic skeleton provides a simple but effective tactic for narrowband blue emission. The organic light‐emitting diodes based on PTZBN2 achieve one of the‐state‐of‐the‐art EQEs of 34.8% with electroluminescence (EL) peak at 478 nm. Impressively, PTZBN3‐based device exhibits not only a high maximum EQE of 32.0% with EL peak at 468 nm, but also low efficiency roll‐off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study evaluated the efficacy of combined interferon α-2b (IFNα2b) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as primary treatment for ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). Methods: In this retrospective study, 27 eyes with OSSN followed by topical application of combined IFNα2b and 5-FU were examined. Reported outcome measures were tumor response, visual acuity, time to complete resolution, recurrence and treatment complications. Results: Twenty-six patients (17 male, 9 female) had a mean age of 63.9 (median, 67; range 22–83) years. Complete tumor response was observed in 24 eyes (88.9%). Three eyes (11.1%) showed partial response to the chemotherapy agents and later underwent surgical tumor removal. The median time to complete resolution was 6 (mean, 6.1; range, 3–11) weeks. Of these, the patients received between one to three cycles of 5-FU therapy (median, 2; mean, 1.8). Complications noted were transient irritation at 5-FU cycle (11 eyes, 40.7%). There was no tumor recurrence at mean follow-up of 16.1 (median, 12; range 6–38) months. Conclusions: Combination therapy of IFNα2b and 5-FU was a safe and effective treatment, inducing a short duration of administration and low recurrence rate for OSSN. Trial Registration: Retrospectively registered, UHCT22048. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancer of Zeste Homologue 2 (EZH2) as a histone methyltransferase epigenetically regulates laryngeal carcinoma (LGC) progression. The present study sought to explore the role and mechanism of EZH2 in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of LGC cells. Expressions of EZH2, secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1), and trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3) in LGC tissues or cells were detected via reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting. Upon transfection of si-EZH2, si-SFRP1, oe-SFRP1, or H3K27me3 upregulation, cell viability was assessed via cell counting kit-8, protein levels of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin, c-Myc, and Cyclin D1 were determined via western blotting, and Vimentin expression was determined via immunofluorescence. The enrichment level of H3K27me3 in the SFRP1 promoter was measured via chromatin immunoprecipitation-PCR. EZH2 was highly expressed in LGC tissues and cells. Silencing EZH2 repelled the EMT of LGC cells. Mechanically, EZH2 upregulated H3K27me3 in the SFRP1 promotor to inhibit SFRP1 expression, and SFRP1 overexpression inactivated the Wnt pathway. H3K27me3 upregulation or SFRP1 downregulation reversed the inhibition of silencing EZH2 in the EMT of LGC cells. Overall, EZH2 upregulated H3K27me3 in the SFRP1 promoter to inhibit SFRP1 expression and activate the Wnt pathway, thereby facilitating the EMT of LGC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the aggressive molecular type of breast carcinoma, with a high metastasis/relapse incidence and cancer-related death rate, due to lack of specific therapeutic targets in the clinic. Exploring potential therapeutic targets or developing novel therapeutic strategies are the focus of intense research to improve the survival and life quality of patients with TNBC. The current study focused on drugs targeting the mTOR signaling pathway by investigating the potential utilization of itraconazole (ITZ) combined with rapamycin in the treatment of TNBC. CCK-8, colony formation and transwell assays were conducted to evaluate the effect of ITZ with rapamycin in combination on MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 TNBC cells. Synergistic inhibition was found in terms of proliferation and motility of TNBC cells. However, apoptosis was not enhanced by the combined treatment of ITZ and rapamycin. Flow cytometry analysis showed that ITZ and/or rapamycin arrested cells in G0/G1 phase and prevented G1/S phase transition. Reduced cyclin D1 protein levels were consistent with G0/G1 phase arrest, especially when resulting from the combination of ITZ with rapamycin. In conclusion, the combination of ITZ with rapamycin is a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with TNBC through synergistically arresting cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, rather than inducing apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition and structure of substrate materials have important influences on coating performance, especially in terms of bonding strength and coating hardness, which determine whether the coating can be used for a given application. In this study, a TiAlN coating is deposited on Ti(C,N)-based cermet (TC) substrates with 0wt%–20wt% WC by arc ion plating. The influence of cermet substrate characteristics on the structure and properties of the TiAlN coating is then researched. Results show that the TiAlN coating deposited on the TC substrate has a columnar grain structure. As WC increases, the strength ratio of I(111)/I(200) and adhesive strength of TiAlN gradually increases. In the absence of WC in the substrate, the preferred orientation of the TiAlN coating is (200). As WC increases, the preferred orientation of the TiAlN coating becomes (111) and (200). Notable differences in adhesive strength between the coating and substrate could be attributed to the micro-structure and composition of the latter. Scratching results show that the adhesive strengths of the TiAlN coating on the 0wt%–20wt% WC cermet substrate are 52–65 N. Among the coatings obtained that on the TC substrate with 15wt% WC presents the highest H/E and H3/E2, which indicates that this coating also features the best wear resistance. The failure mechanisms of the coated tools include coating peeling, adhesive wear, and abrasive wear. As the cutting speed increases, the degree of flank wear increases and the durability of the coating decreases accordingly. Increases in WC result in an initial decrease followed by a gradual increase in the flank wear of the coated cermet inserts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]