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[Aim] To clarify the parasitoid species and parasitic status of the overwintering population of the rice stem borer (Chilo suppressalis) in Sichuan, thereby providing a foundation for the utilization of parasitoids as agents of biological control for this pest. [Methods] Specimens of the overwintering population of C. suppressalis were collected from 6 sites in Sichuan from February to April each year between 2019 and 2023. Parasitoid species were identified by morphology and 28S rDNA sequences. The parasitism rate was also recorded. Adult longevity of parasitoids was determined using honey water as a food source. [Results] Seven species of parasitoids of the overwintering population of C. suppressalis were identified, including Chelonus munakatae, Microgaster russata, Amyosoma chinensis, Cotesia flavipes, Eriborus terebrans, Auberteterus alternecoloratus and Trichomalopsis apanteloctena. Sequences of the 28S rDNA D2 region of 7 species were obtained. A phylogenetic tree based on 28S D2 variation indicates that every parasitoid clustered with species in the same family. Parasitism rates of the overwintering population for each year between 2019 and 2023 were 6.28%-11.78%, 0.81%-5.50%, 0.88%-14.34%, 2.34%-16.60% and 3.47%-18.07%. C. munakatae was the most common parasite followed by E. terebrans, C. flavipes and M. russata. These four species are widely distributed in Sichuan Province. Average lifespans of A. alternecoloratus, C. munakatae, E. terebrans, M. russata and C. flavipes were 18.20, 7.89, 6.10, 5.69 and 2.74 days, respectively. [Conclusion] An abundance of parasitoids parasitize the overwintering population of C. suppressalis in rice fields of Sichuan. There is consequently considerable potential for using parasitoids to improve the management of C. suppressalis in Sichuan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving customer satisfaction is the key factor in enhancing the core competitiveness of hotels, as higher customer satisfaction can lead to long-term benefits such as a positive reputation, customer loyalty, and sustained profitability. Multi-source user-generated content (UGC) can provide high-quality and sufficient information for improving customer satisfaction; however, related research is limited. Therefore, a method considering multi-source UGC to improve customer satisfaction is proposed in this paper. First, the service attributes of the hotels that customers care about are obtained from multi-source UGC. Then, evaluation information is obtained by processing multi-source UGC based on the heuristic-systematic model, and the credibility of the evaluation information is measured. Furthermore, evaluation information is combined based on evidence theory to estimate the importance and performance of hotel service attributes. Finally, impact asymmetry-gap analysis (IAGA) is proposed to generate customer satisfaction improvement strategies for different attributes. The application of the method is illustrated using data from actual hotels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the quasi-two-body decays B c → K 0 ∗ (1430 , 1950) D (s) → K π D (s) within the perturbative QCD (PQCD) framework. The S-wave two-meson distribution amplitudes (DAs) are introduced to describe the final state interactions of the K π pair, which involve the time-like form factors and the Gegenbauer polynomials. In the calculations, we adopt two kinds of parameterization schemes to describe the time-like form factors: one is the relativistic Breit–Wigner (RBW) formula, which is usually more suitable for the narrow resonances, and the other is the LASS line shape proposed by the LASS Collaboration, which includes both the resonant and nonresonant components. We find that the branching ratios and the direct CP violations for the decays B c → K 0 ∗ (1430) D (s) obtained from those of the quasi-two-body decays B c → K 0 ∗ (1430) D (s) → K π D (s) under the narrow width approximation (NWA) can be consistent well with the previous PQCD results calculated in the two-body framework by assuming that K 0 ∗ (1430) is the lowest lying q ¯ s state, which is the so-called scenario II (SII). We conclude that the LASS parameterization is more suitable to describe the K 0 ∗ (1430) than the RBW formula, and the nonresonant components play an important role in the branching ratios of the decays B c → K 0 ∗ (1430) D (s) → K π D (s) . In view of the large difference between the decay width measurements for the K 0 ∗ (1950) given by BaBar and LASS collaborations, we calculate the branching ratios and the CP violations for the quasi-two-body decays B c → K 0 ∗ (1950) D (s) → K π D (s) by using two values, Γ K 0 ∗ (1950) = 0.100 ± 0.04 GeV and Γ K 0 ∗ (1950) = 0.201 ± 0.034 GeV, besides the two kinds of parameterizations for the resonance K 0 ∗ (1950) . We find that the branching ratios and the direct CP violations for the decays B c → K 0 ∗ (1950) D (s) → K π D (s) have not as large difference between the two parameterizations as the case of decays involving the K 0 ∗ (1430) , especially for the results with Γ K 0 ∗ (1950) = 0.201 ± 0.034 GeV. The effect of the nonresonant component in the K 0 ∗ (1950) may be not so serious as that in the K 0 ∗ (1430) . The quasi-two-body decays B c + → K 0 ∗ + (1430) D 0 → K 0 π + D 0 and B c + → K 0 ∗ 0 (1430) D + → K + π - D + have large branching ratios, which can reach to the order of 10 - 4 and are most likely to be observed in the future LHCb experiments. Furthermore, the branching ratios of the quasi-two-body decays B c → K 0 ∗ (1950) D (s) → K π D (s) are about one order smaller than those of the corresponding decays B c → K 0 ∗ (1430) D (s) → K π D (s) . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passive source detection is a challenging problem in the shadow zone, where the sound is contributed primarily by bottom‐bounce rays. The conventional beamforming detector (CBFD), which utilises the sound energy from a single direction, suffers potential significant performance degradation in the multipath‐signal scenario. The matched field detector (MFD) offers optimal performance by exploiting full‐wave field characteristics but is limited due to its reliance on prior ocean environmental knowledge. The authors demonstrate that the incident sound on a near‐surface vertical line array in the shadow zone can be approximated as a coherent sum of two plane waves that share a symmetric arrival angle about the horizontal. This leads to the signal subspace depending only on the arrival angle, which the authors call the bottom‐bounce ray angle subspace (BRAS). With generalised likelihood ratio test theory, the authors further derive the BRAS detector (BRASD). It can utilise the full signal energy under the premise of weak environmental knowledge requirements and is generally superior to the CBFD. Simulation results in a typical deep‐water channel under different source‐position and array configuration conditions demonstrate the effectiveness of the BRASD and suggest that it can even offer a performance comparable to that of the MFD under specific conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we explain why the Energy Gap Law and the energy inversion related to the charge-transfer state have opposite effects on the trend of nonradiative energy loss of organic solar cells. The root is the existing condition of energy inversion. There is indeed a certain probability of energy inversion, but it will eventually be implicit or explicit as determined by the hybridization, which depends on the electron-withdrawing unit of the donor, giving rise to different stacking sites. The triplet-state hybridization leads to an explicit characteristic, while singlet-state hybridization leads to an implicit characteristic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) with designable nitrogen-rich structures, which can form Schottky junctions with Pt nanoparticles, have been extensively studied in photocatalysis. However, tuning the interaction inside the Schottky junction to inhibit charge recombination and promote charge migration for better photocatalytic performance in CTFs is rarely explored. Herein, we report a new strategy to regulate the Schottky junction structures between CTFs and Pt nanoparticles by using tailor-made modulating nitrogen sites in Pt@CTFs. We found that the isolated singular pyridine sites are good for the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance, while the neighboring bipyridine sites are detrimental to the photocatalytic performance. We further explored the influence of the number and position of pyridine N units on the band structures of the CTFs and found that the CTF (CTF-Py-1) with isolated single pyridine sites can form more effective Schottky junctions with Pt nanoparticles, comprising the smallest Schottky barrier to facilitate the electrons transport inside the junction. Consequently, Pt@CTF-Py-1 gives the best photocatalytic performance among the series with a hydrogen production rate of 14 960 μmol h−1 g−1, which is about ten times higher than that of Pt@CTF-BPy. This study provides a new insight for designing Schottky junction photocatalysts by modulating nitrogen-containing organic units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bile duct leaks (BDLs) are serious complications that occurs after hepatobiliary surgery and trauma, leading to rapid clinical deterioration. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the first-line treatment for BDLs, but it is not clear which patients will respond to this therapy and which patients will require additional surgical intervention. The aim of our study was to explore the predictors of successful ERCP for BDLs. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from six centers' databases. All consecutive patients who were clinically confirmed as BDLs were included in the study. Collected data were demographics, disease severity, and ERCP procedure characteristics. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to select independent predictive factors that affect the outcome of ERCP for BDLs, and a nomogram was established. Calibration and ROC curves were used to evaluate the models. Results: Four hundred and forty-eight consecutive patients were clinically confirmed as BDLs and 347 were excluded. In the 101 patients included patients, clinical success was achieved in 78 patients (77.2%). In logistic multivariable regression, two independent factors were negatively associated with the success of ERCP: SIRS (OR, 0.183; 95% CI 0.039–0.864; P = 0.032) and high-grade leak (OR 0.073; 95% CI 0.010–0.539; P = 0.010). Two independent factors were positively associated with the success of ERCP: leak-bridging drainage (OR 4.792; 95% CI 1.08–21.21; P = 0.039) and cystic duct leak (OR 6.193; 95% CI 1.03–37.17; P = 0.046). The prediction model with these four factors was evaluated using a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, which demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.9351. The calibration curve showed that the model had good predictive accuracy. Conclusion: Leak-bridging drainage and cystic duct leak are positive predictors for the success of ERCP, while SIRS and high-grade leak are negative predictors. This prediction model with nomogram has good predictive ability and practical clinical value, and may be helpful in clinical decision-making and prognostication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a 0.7 nm thick monolayer MoS2 nanosheet gate-all-around field effect transistors (NS-GAAFETs) with conformal high- κ metal gate deposition are demonstrated. The device with 40 nm channel length exhibits a high on-state current density of ~410 μ A μ m−1 with a large on/off ratio of 6 × 108 at drain voltage = 1 V. The extracted contact resistance is 0.48 ± 0.1 kΩ μ m in monolayer MoS2 NS-GAAFETs, thereby showing the channel-dominated performance with the channel length scaling from 80 to 40 nm. The successful demonstration of device performance in this work verifies the integration potential of transition metal dichalcogenides for future logic transistor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In large group decision-making, participators with different knowledge structures, backgrounds, and other characteristics are unlikely to accurately evaluate alternatives. For this, it is necessary to decompose alternatives into several elements, and consider the participators' preferences for elements of alternatives and the multiple classifications for participators according to their characteristics. However, related studies are still scarce. The objective of this paper is to propose a multi-elemental large group decision-making method, in which the desirable alternative(s) are selected from a set of feasible alternatives according to the preference information on multiple elements of alternatives provided by participators from multiple subgroups, and multiple classifications for participators are considered. In the method, according to the strict preference ordering of elements provided by participators, the percentage distributions on preferences of each subgroup concerning each element are firstly presented under each classification for participators. Secondly, the decision weight of each subgroup is determined by three factors, i.e., the consensus of preferences provided by each subgroup, the organizer's preference for each subgroup, and the number of participators in each subgroup. Then, the comprehensive preference concerning each element is determined by combing the preference information from multiple subgroups and the decision weights of multiple subgroups, the overall preference vector can be obtained under each classification, and the virtual alternatives are determined by normalizing the overall preference vector. Further, considering multiple classifications for participators, the overall dominant degrees of alternatives can be obtained by calculating the similarity degrees between each virtual alternative and each alternative, thus the ranking order of alternatives can be obtained based on the overall dominant degrees of alternatives. Finally, an example is given to confirm the feasibility of the proposed method. The results of the sensitivity and comparative analyses show that the proposed method is applicable and effective. The proposed method can further enrich and improve the theory and approach of large group decision-making with multiple elements considering multiple classifications for participators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A semiconductor/dielectric interface is one of the dominant factors in device characteristics, and a variety of oxides with high dielectric constants and low interface trap densities have been used in carbon nanotube transistors. Given the crystal structure of nanotubes with no dangling bonds, there remains room to investigate unconventional dielectric materials. Here, we fabricate carbon nanotube transistors with boron nitride nanotubes as interfacial layers between channels and gate dielectrics, where a single semiconducting nanotube is used to focus on switching behaviors at the subthreshold regime. The subthreshold swing of 68 mV·dec−1 is obtained despite a 100-nm-thick SiO2 dielectric, corresponding to the effective interface trap density of 5.2 × 1011 cm−2·eV−1, one order of magnitude lower than those of carbon nanotube devices without boron nitride passivation. The interfacial layers also result in the mild suppression of threshold voltage variation and hysteresis. We achieve Ohmic contacts through the selective etching of boron nitride nanotubes with XeF2 gas, overcoming the trade-off imposed by wrapping the inner nanotubes. Negligible impacts of fluorinating carbon nanotubes on device performances are also confirmed as long as the etching is applied exclusively at source/drain regions. Our results represent an important step toward nanoelectronics that exploit the advantage of one-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: For high-risk elderly patients with chronic diseases, endoscopic stone removal for large common bile duct stones is associated with a high risk of adverse events and incomplete stone removal. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the treatment strategy of short-term biliary plastic stent placement followed by elective endoscopic stone removal is more effective and safer than immediate endoscopic stone removal. Methods: The data of 262 high-risk elderly patients who received endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for large common bile duct (CBD) stones from 2017 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into group A (immediate stone removal) and group B (stent drainage + elective stone removal). The baseline data of the 2 groups were matched 1:1 by propensity score matching. The stone clearance rate, ERCP procedure time, total hospital stay, and procedure-related adverse events were compared between the matched groups. In group B, stone size before and after stent placement, hospital stay, procedure time and adverse events of two ERCPs were compared. Results: A total of 57 pairs of patients were successfully matched between the 2 groups. The stone clearance rate in group B was higher than that in group A (89.5% vs. 75.3, P = 0.049). The total hospital stay in group B was longer than that in group A (11.86 ± 3.912 d vs. 19.14 ± 3.176 d, P<0.001). The total adverse event rate in group A was higher than that in group B (29.8% vs. 12.3%, P = 0.005). The incidence of cholangitis/cholecystitis after ERCP was significantly higher in group A than in group B (7.0% vs. 0.9% P = 0.029). There was no significant difference in the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis, bleeding, pneumonia, and cardio-cerebrovascular events between the 2 groups. There were no perforation cases in either group. After plastic biliary stent placement in group B, the stone size was significantly smaller than before stent placement (1.59 ± 0.544 cm vs. 1.95 ± 0.543 cm, P < 0.001), and there was no significant difference in the total adverse event incidence between the two ERCP procedures (18.8% vs. 10.9%, P = 0.214). Conclusion: For high-risk elderly patients with large CBD stones, the treatment strategy involving temporary placement of plastic stent and elective endoscopic stone removal is safer and more effective than immediate stone removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an effective strategy for morphology optimization, side-chain engineering significantly improves photovoltaic performance of all-small-molecule organic solar cells (ASM-OSCs) by improving molecular aggregation, promoting charge transfer, and reducing charge recombination. However, the understanding of side-chain engineering on blending morphology and microscopic mechanism remains unclear, leading to the challenge of targeted materials design for achieving higher power conversion efficiency (PCE). Herein, we investigated the ester-anchored alkyl side chains with steric-hindrance effect on the blending morphology and revealed the essential reason for the lower energy loss (Eloss). The results show that the ester-anchored alkyl side chains enhance the intermolecular interactions, especially the coulomb interactions leading to the delocalization of the molecular wave function. Meanwhile, optimization of the interfacial molecular arrangement yields favorable interfacial stacking and tunes the charge-transfer state energy to facilitate the charge-transfer possess. Further, through inhibiting the charge recombination process, the steric-hindrance effect of the ester-anchored alkyl side chains obtains a lower Eloss. This work provides a theoretical basis for the future rational design of side-chain engineering to exploit the steric-hindrance effect toward high-performance ASM-OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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ITIC-series nonfullerene organic photovoltaics (NF OPVs) have realized the simultaneous increases of the short-circuit current density (JSC) and open-circuit voltage (VOC), called the positive correlation between JSC and VOC, which could improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, it is complicated to predict the formation of positive correlation in devices through simple calculations of single molecules due to their dimensional differences. Here, a series of symmetrical NF acceptors blended with the PBDB-T donor were chosen to establish an association framework between the molecular modification strategy and positive correlation. It can be found that the positive correlation is modification site-dependent following the energy variation at the different levels. Furthermore, to illustrate a positive correlation, the energy gap differences (ΔEg) and the energy level differences of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (ΔELUMO) between the two changed acceptors were proposed as two molecular descriptors. Combined with the machine learning model, the accuracy of the proposed descriptor is more than 70% for predicting the correlation, which verifies the reliability of the prediction model. This work establishes the relative relationship between two molecular descriptors with different molecular modification sites and realizes the prediction of the trend of efficiency. Therefore, future research should focus on the simultaneous enhancement of photovoltaic parameters for high-performance NF OPVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porphyrins and their derivatives have been employed extensively in organic solar cells (OSCs) in recent years. However, a deeper understanding of the exciton dissociation process for the porphyrin donor/non‐fullerene acceptor (NFA) interface is still lacking. Herein, we have combined quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics simulations to explore the combination of mono and dimer porphyrin donors with various types of NFAs. The work reveals that the key issue lies in the exciton dissociation process of porphyrin materials, which have strong crystallinity to increase spacing (more than 5.0 Å), resulting in lesser miscibility and weaker intermolecular π‐π stacking. The pathway for exciton dissociation will be limited by the small number of high‐energy charge transfer (CT) states. To solve the above‐mentioned issues, we implement an improved strategy for modifying the side chain of the terminal unit, reducing the stacking distance to 4.4 Å, while the number of CT states reaches up to 40 % (3/A3 style 1). Additionally, the results also indicate the development potential for all porphyrin OSCs, particularly, the charge recombination (kCR) rate of the 1/Rf‐Iso system is lowered by nearly nine orders of magnitude. This research may offer fresh perspectives for extending the application range of porphyrin materials in OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forest spatial structure and diversity of tree species, as the important evaluation indicators of forest quality, are key factors affecting forest carbon storage. To analyze the impacts of biodiversity indices and stand spatial structure on forest carbon density, five tree diversity indices were calculated from three aspects of richness, diversity and evenness, and three indices (Reineke's stand density index, Hegyi's competition index and Simple mingling degree) were calculated from stand spatial structure. The relationships between these eight indices and forest carbon density were explored using the Structural Equation Model (SEM). Then, these eight indices were used as characteristic variables to predict the aboveground carbon density of trees (abbreviated as forest carbon density) in the sample plots of the National Forest Resources Continuous Inventory (NFCI) in Shaoguan City in 2017. Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and four typical machine learning models of Random Forest (RF), Tree-based Piecewise Linear Model (M5P), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Support Vector Regression (SVR) were used to predict the forest carbon density. The results show that: (1) Based on the analysis results of the structural equation model (SED), the species diversity and forest stand spatial structure have greater impacts on carbon density. (2) The R2 of all the five prediction models is greater than 0.6, among which the random forest model is the highest. (3) Based on the calculation results of optimal model of RF, the mean forest carbon density of Shaoguan city in 2017 was 43.176 tC/ha. The forest carbon density can be accurately estimated based on the species diversity index and stand spatial structure with machine learning algorithms. Therefore, a new method for the prediction of forest carbon density and carbon storage using species diversity indices and stand spatial structure can be explored. By analyzing the impacts of different biodiversity indices and stand spatial structure on forest carbon density, a scientific reference for the making of management measures for increasing forest carbon sinks and reducing emissions can be provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, on-site visitation has been strictly restricted in many scenic areas due to the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Cloud tourism", also called online travel, uses high-resolution photographs taken by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as the dominant data source and has attracted much attention. Due to the differences between ground and aerial observation perspectives, the landscape elements that affect the beauty of colored-leaved forests are quite different. In this paper, Qixia National Forest Park in Nanjing, China, was chosen as the case study area, and the best viewpoints were selected by combining tourists' preferred viewing routes with a field survey, followed by a scenic beauty evaluation (SBE) of the forests with autumn-colored leaves in 2021 from the aerial and ground perspectives. The results show that (1) the best viewpoints can be obtained through the spatial overlay of five landscape factors: elevation, surface runoff, slope, aspect, and distance from the road; (2) the dominant factors influencing the beauty of colored-leaved forests from the aerial perspective are terrain changes, forest coverage, landscape composition, landscape contrast, the condition of the human landscape, and recreation frequency; and (3) the beauty of the ground perspective of the colored-leaved forests is strongly influenced by the average diameter at breast height (DBH), the dominant color of the leaves, the ratio of the colored-leaved tree species, the canopy width, and the fallen leaf coverage. The research results can provide scientific reference for the creation of management measures for forests with autumn-colored leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A clear selection rule for the third component is the premise for improving the efficiency of ternary organic solar cells (T-OSCs), which is also the top priority for clarifying the working mechanism. Here, the concept of structural domains is borrowed to mark molecular characteristics, quantify structural information, and support the breakthrough of structural dimensions layer by layer to confirm whether the same/different structural domain and ratio will lead to essential changes in the role of the third component. It shows that the domain difference determines the effect degree of the ratio on the morphology, stacking site and interfacial arrangement from the cluster level to the electron state level. Furthermore, under a certain domain difference, the ratio can react in turn to regulate the internal charge transfer (CT) mode. We aim to establish the corresponding relationship between the selection of the third component and the CT mechanism, and reveal the essence of a trace amount of the third component in the photoelectric conversion process, providing a theoretical basis for the targeted selection of the third component for T-OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is increasingly being used to screen for hemoglobinopathies. We here report the migration position of hemoglobin (Hb) variants prevalent in China determined by CE. The CE migration position showed excellent precision and minor inter-individual variation. We conclude that the CE migration position can be used as a reliable indicator for identifying Hb variants and can also help to establish a well-characterized library of Hb variants for their refined presumptive identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoscopic papillectomy (EP) is an effective treatment for ampullary lesions but technically challenging because of anatomical specificities concerning the high rate of adverse events. Bleeding is one of the most feared complications and can be potentially life-threatening. To study the risk factors for bleeding after EP are presented with the goal of establishing preventive measures. A total of 173 consecutive patients with ampullary lesions undergone EP from January 2006 to October 2020 were enrolled in this study. They were divided into a bleeding group and a non-bleeding group depending on whether postoperative bleeding occurred. Related factors were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistics regression. Postoperative bleeding was experienced in 33 patients (19.07%). Multivariate analysis also identified intraoperative bleeding (OR: 4.38, 95% CI: 1.87–11.15, p =.001) and endoscopic closure (OR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.10–0.58, p =.001) as independent factors significantly associated with bleeding after EP. Lesion size (≥3 cm) was shown as an independent factor significantly associated with intraoperative bleeding (OR: 4.25, 95% CI: 1.21–16.44, p =.028). This retrospective evaluation found that endoscopic closure was associated with reduced risk and intraoperative bleeding with increased risk of bleeding after EP. Lesion size may indirectly influence the risk of postoperative bleeding by increasing the risk of intraoperative bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of ultralow dielectric constant (k value ≈ 2) materials to reduce signal propagation delay in advanced electronic devices represents a critical challenge in next generations of microelectronics technologies. The introduction of well‐stacked and low polarity molecules that do not compromise film density may lead to improvements and desirable material engineering, as conventional porous SiOx derivatives exhibit detrimental degradation of thermo‐mechanical properties when their k values are further scaled down. This work presents a systematic engineering approach for controlling ultralow‐k amorphous boron nitride (aBN) deposition on 300 mm Si platforms. The results indicate that aBN grown from borazine precursor exhibits ultralow dielectric constant ≈2, high density, excellent mechanical strength, and extended thermodynamic stability. Unintentional boron ion doping during plasma dissociation that may induce artificial reductions of k value on n‐type substrates is alleviated by employing a remote microwave plasma process. Moreover, the adoption of low growth rate processes for ultralow‐k aBN deposition is found to be critical to provide for the superior mechanical strength and high density, and is attributed to the formation of hexagonal ring stacking frameworks. These results pave the way and offer engineering solutions for new ultralow‐k material introduction into future semiconductor manufacturing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using 2, 2'-biimidazole (2, 2′-biim) and 2, 2′-bipyridine (2, 2′-bipy) as structure-directing agents (SDAs), two cadmium diphosphonates, [Cd2(H2L)2(H2O)] (1) and [Cd5(HL)2(H2L)2]·4H2O (2) (H4L = 4–F–C6H4CH2N(CH2PO3H2)2), have been hydrothermally synthesized. The introduction of different N-heterocyclic aromatic SDAs results in the diverse structures, thermal stabilities, and luminescent properties. Structural analyses reveal that both 1 and 2 show three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular structures wherein the adjacent layers are further connected by moderately π–π stacking interactions or hydrogen-bond interactions. Among them, the thermal stability of 1 is higher than 2. Surprisingly, 1 displays excellent luminescent performance, whereas 2 shows no luminescent signal. Based on the intense luminescence of 1, it can serve as a high selectively and sensitively luminescent sensor for Hg2+ with a low detection limit of 3.1 × 10–7 M in aqueous solution. Additionally, the probable sensing mechanism for 1 has also been investigated in detail, which can be assigned to the weak interaction between the uncoordinated O sites from the H2L2– ligands and Hg2+. Two cadmium diphosphonates with different structures and luminescent properties have been hydrothermally obtained by using N–heterocyclic aromatic (2, 2′–biim and 2, 2′‒bipy) compounds as SDAs. 1 displays excellent luminescent performance, whereas 2 shows no luminescent signal. Furthermore, 1 can serve as a luminescent sensor for Hg2+ in water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting monolayers such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are promising channel materials to extend Moore's Law in advanced electronics. Synthetic TMD layers from chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are scalable for fabrication but notorious for their high defect densities. Therefore, innovative endeavors on growth reaction to enhance their quality are urgently needed. Here, we report that the hydroxide W species, an extremely pure vapor phase metal precursor form, is very efficient for sulfurization, leading to about one order of magnitude lower defect density compared to those from conventional CVD methods. The field-effect transistor (FET) devices based on the proposed growth reach a peak electron mobility ~200 cm2/Vs (~800 cm2/Vs) at room temperature (15 K), comparable to those from exfoliated flakes. The FET device with a channel length of 100 nm displays a high on-state current of ~400 µA/µm, encouraging the industrialization of 2D materials. Chemical vapor deposition enables the scalable production of 2D semiconductors, but the grown materials are usually affected by high defect densities. Here, the authors report a hydroxide vapour phase deposition method to synthesize wafer-scale monolayer WS2 with reduced defect density and electrical properties comparable to those of exfoliated flakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel ternary heterojunction composite photocatalyst g-C3N4/TiO2/NiWO4 was fabricated using a simple hydrothermal method. The synthesized samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectrum (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectra, photoluminescence (PL) spectra, transient photocurrent responses, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopies (EIS). The results indicated that the composite of g-C3N4/TiO2/NiWO4 had been successfully synthesized. By constructing a ternary heterojunction, the electron migration rate and light absorption of the material are further improved; the photogenerated electron–hole recombination is inhibited. The ternary composite photocatalyst shows the highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) than that of g-C3N4, TiO2, NiWO4, and g-C3N4/TiO2 photocatalyst. The degradation efficiency of RhB using g-C3N4/TiO2/NiWO4 can reach 99% after visible-light irradiation for 40 min. Finally, the migration mechanism of charge carriers in the ternary system has been schematically illustrated by the active species capture experiment. Our research can pave the way for the fabrication of ternary heterojunction composite photocatalyst with high photocatalytic activity for the environmental contaminants treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the conservatism issue of state-feedback control for Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy systems, a novel local controller design method and stability analysis approach are proposed in this article. First, based on a membership function piecewise linearization technique, a local linear controller is proposed to form a closed-loop system. Then, a series of system stability conditions are derived using quadratic and piecewise function approaches. Further, with a designed fuzzy local controller and fuzzy Lyapunov function, less conservative stability conditions are obtained. Finally, a simulation example is adopted to make comparisons with existing and proposed methods. The results clearly show the conservatism reduction and excellent performance of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of an inflection point between fullerene and nonfullerene molecules was demonstrated using bowl-nonfullerene models, which were proposed to explore the key points relating to the different properties. This study explains the differences in the stacking configurations of the inflection points and reveals the reason for the inversion of properties, which is caused by small structural differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to explore the safety and efficacy of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients over 90 years of age. Methods: The study included 176 patients aged over 85 years who received their ERCP from February 2002 to January 2021. In the case group (super‐elderly group), 44 patients were 90 years old or above. In the control group (younger group), there were 132 patients aged 85–89 years. The control group was matched according to patient gender and the same indications of ERCP at a 1:3 ratio. Logistic regression models were employed to evaluate all complications. Results: The case group had higher acute physiology and chronic health evaluation scoring system (APACHE‐II) scores and rate of hypoalbuminemia. APACHE‐II scores (≥6 or 7) were significantly more common in the case group. The rates of technical success and complete success in the case group were 100% and 100% respectively, which were similar to the rates in the control group, namely a technical success rate of 98.5% and a complete success rate of 98.5%. The rate of complication in the case group was 9.1%, which was slightly lower than that of the control group (15.2%, P > 0.05). ERCP‐related death occurred in one patient in the control group, who had malignant biliary obstruction and died from cholangitis. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications such as pancreatitis, hemorrhage, and infection between the two groups. In the multivariate analysis, the independent risk factor was Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) for overall complication. Conclusions: ERCP can be performed safely and successfully in patients aged ≥90 years. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 50–55. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use density functional theory to predict and evaluate 10 novel covalent organic frameworks (COFs), labeled (X4Y)(BDC)3, (X = C/Si; Y = C, Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb), with topology based on metal organic framework isoreticular metal-organic framework (IRMOF-1), but with new elements substituted for the corner atoms. We show that these new materials are stable structures using frequency calculations. For two structures, (C4C and Si4C) molecular dynamics simulations were performed to demonstrate stability of the systems up to 600 K for 10 ps. This demonstrates the remarkable stability of these systems, some of which may be experimentally accessible. For the C4C material, we also explored the stability of isolated corners and linkers and vacuum and started to build the structure from these pieces. We discuss the equilibrium lattice parameters, formation enthalpies, electronic structures, chemical bonding, and mechanical and optical properties. The predicted bulk moduli of these COFs range from 18.9 to 23.9 GPa, larger than that of IRMOF-1 (ca. 15.4 GPa), and larger than many existing 3D COF materials. The band gaps range from 1.5 to 2.1 eV, corresponding to 600-830 nm wavelength (orange through near infrared). The negative values of the formation enthalpy suggest that they are stable and should be experimentally accessible under suitable conditions. Seven materials distort the crystal structure to a lower space group symmetry Fm-3, while three materials maintain the original Fm-3m space group symmetry. All of the new materials are highly luminescent. We hope that this work will inspire efforts for experimental synthesis of these new materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the output feedback control problem of a T‐S fuzzy system, an H∞ observer‐controller synthesis method is proposed. First, with parallel distributed compensation fuzzy observer and controller, an augmented error system is obtained. Based on Lyapunov function approaches, system stability and robust conditions are achieved. Then, by dividing the non‐convex conditions into observer‐dominant and controller dominant parts, the conditions are converted into convex form to facilitate the numerical solving process. Also, input saturation and system measurement disturbance are considered in the synthesis procedure. Finally, a numerical and a vessel control example are adopted to make comparisons with existing methods, with the results clearly showing the conservatism reduction effects and good control performance of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second-hand goods exchange matching problem with intelligent exchange platform is a valuable research topic, while research in the related field is relatively lacking. Thus, the goal of this paper is to develop a two-sided matching method for the second-hand goods exchange matching. In the method, not only the characteristic of loss aversion of buyers/sellers and the benefit of e-brokerage are considered, but also the suggested exchange prices that meet the requirements of buyers and sellers are determined. Specifically, the description of second-hand goods exchange matching problem is firstly presented, in which the 2-tuple including the ideal level and the lowest acceptable level is used to quantify the expected demands of buyers and sellers for attributes. Then, several models maximizing the perceived values of buyers and sellers are derived to determine the suggested exchange price of goods. Next, according to the expectation information of buyers and sellers, and the real information of goods, the perceived value matrix for each attribute of buyers and sellers can be obtained by using the prospect theory. Furthermore, a model can be constructed and solved to determine the maximum number of exchange of buyers and sellers in e-brokerage, and an optimization model with the constraint of the exchange number threshold is constructed, and the optimal exchange matching results can be obtained by solving the optimization model. Finally, an example is given to illustrate the practicality of the proposed method. The method can be used to improve the operational performance of intelligent exchange platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the proportion of insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients among diabetic patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA) and whether insulin dependence is associated with postoperative complications. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in EMBASE, PubMed, Ovid, Medline, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, the China Science and Technology Journal Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from the inception dates to 10 September 2019. Observational studies reporting adverse events with IDDM following TJA were included. Primary outcomes were cardiovascular complications, pulmonary complications, kidney complications, wound complications, infection, and other complications within 30 days of surgery. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of IDDM patients among diabetic patients undergoing TJA and its time trend. Results: A total of 19 studies involving 85,689 participants were included. Among patients undergoing TJA, 26% of diabetic patients had IDDM. Compared with non‐insulin‐dependent diabetes (NIDDM), the incidences of cardiac arrest (risk ratio [RR], 2.346; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.553 to 3.546), renal failure (relative risk [RR], 2.758; 95% CI, 1.830 to 4.156), deep incisional surgical site infection (RR, 1.968; 95% CI, 1.107 to 3.533), wound dehiscence (RR, 2.209; 95% CI, 1.830 to 4.156), and death (RR, 2.292; 95% CI, 1.568 to 3.349) were all significantly increased in IDDM. A significant time trend was witnessed for the prevalence of IDDM (P = 0.014). There was no statistical significance for organ/space surgical site infection, thrombotic events (deep venous thrombosis/ pulmonary embolism), and revision rates. Conclusion: Insulin‐dependent diabetes is an independent high‐risk factor for increased adverse outcomes relative to NIDDM, suggesting that hierarchical and optimal blood glucose management may contribute to reducing the adverse complications after surgery for these patients. In addition, because the risk of sepsis, deep wound infection, organ/space surgical site infection, urinary tract infection, renal insufficiency, and renal failure significantly increase after TJA in IDDM patients, more active postoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis may be needed on the premise of protecting renal function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ring‐expanded strategy in nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) with the acceptor–donor–acceptor backbone has been reported to be an effective method to improve the fill factor (FF), open circuit voltage (VOC), and short circuit current (JSC) simultaneously in organic photovoltaics. However, design control is still missing in the ring‐expanded strategy, and is urgently needed to further develop the origins and rules. To give insight into this strategy, a detailed theoretical study of the ring‐expanded mechanism is performed on the systems comprising different 9,9′‐bifluorenylidene‐based cores and 1,1‐dicyanomethylene‐3‐indanone group. Some main parameters involved in photoelectric conversion mechanism under the donor excitation (DE) and/or acceptor excitation (AE) are assessed by changing the position and size of ring‐expanded modes. The results show that the external ring‐expanded modes can not only maintain the original advantage as much as possible, variations in sizes and positions also offer them an opportunity to regulate the aforementioned parameters systematically, leading to better improvement regardless of AE or DE. Thus, the steady improvement in performance mentioned previously is the key to overcoming the negative correlation among FF, VOC, and JSC. This insight and discovery of the ring‐expanded strategy provides new design approaches for the next generation of NFAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commercial application of lithium–sulfur batteries is mainly restricted by their quick capacity decay and poor cycle life due to the shuttle effect, insulating nature of sulfur, and cathode structure pulverization. Herein, a new type of lithiated polymer binder based on a vinyl chloride-acrylic copolymer (VCA) is constructed for the sulfur cathode. Experimental results and theoretical calculations both reveal that the lithiated vinyl chloride-acrylic copolymer (LVCA) binder possesses strong interactions with lithium polysulfides, enabling inhibition of the shuttle effect. The high adhesion strength of the LVCA binder effectively maintains electrode integrity and ensures good electronic conductivity during long-term cycling. Besides, the appropriate electrolyte uptake and abundant –COOLi groups of the LVCA binder endow the sulfur cathode with fast lithium-ion diffusion. Consequently, the sulfur cathode with the LVCA binder exhibits a 2.0-fold increase in the discharge capacity and a low capacity decay of only 0.04% per cycle after 800 cycles at 1C, compared to that with a PVDF binder. The rate performance of the sulfur cathode with the LVCA binder is also greatly enhanced, retaining a high discharge capacity of 704.9 mA h g−1 at 2C. This study provides an effective strategy for improving the electrochemistry performance of lithium–sulfur batteries by simple application of a new and low-cost copolymer binder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the effects of defect scatterings on the electric transport properties of chemical vapor deposited (CVD) graphene by measuring the carrier density dependence of the magneto-conductivity. To clarify the dominant scattering mechanism, we perform extensive measurements on large-area samples with different mobility to exclude the edge effect. We analyze our data with the major scattering mechanisms such as short-range static scatters, short-range screened Coulomb disorders, and weak-localization (WL). We establish that the charged impurities are the predominant scatters because there is a strong correlation between the mobility and the charge impurity density. Near the charge neutral point (CNP), the electron-hole puddles that are induced by the charged impurities enhance the inter-valley scattering, which is favorable for WL observations. Away from the CNP, the charged-impurity-induced scattering is weak because of the effective screening by the charge carriers. As a result, the local static structural defects govern the charge transport. Our findings provide compelling evidence for understanding the scattering mechanisms in graphene and pave the way for the improvement of fabrication techniques to achieve high-quality CVD graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new flexible memory element is crucial for mobile and wearable electronics. A new concept for memory operation and innovative device structure with new materials is certainly required to address the bottleneck of memory applications now and in the future. We report a new nonvolatile molecular memory with a new operating mechanism based on two-dimensional (2D) material nanochannel field-effect transistors (FETs). The smallest channel length for our 2D material nanochannel FETs was approximately 30 nm. The modified molecular configuration for charge induced in the nanochannel of the MoS2 FET can be tuned by applying an up-gate voltage pulse, which can vary the channel conductance to exhibit memory states. Through controlling the amounts of triggered molecules through either different gate voltage pulses or gate duration time, multilevel states were obtained in the molecular memory. These new molecular memory transistors exhibited an erase/program ratio of more than three orders of current magnitude and high sensitivity, of a few picoamperes, at the current level. Reproducible operation and four-level states with stable retention and endurance were achieved. We believe this prototype device has potential for use in future memory devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the lack of surface dangling bonds in graphene, the direct growth of high-κ films via atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique often produces the dielectrics with a poor quality, which hinders its integration in modern semiconductor industry. Previous pretreatment approaches, such as chemical functionalization with ozone and plasma treatments, would inevitably degrade the quality of the underlying graphene. Here, we tackled this problem by utilizing an effective and convenient physical method. In detail, the graphene surface was pretreated with the deposition of thermally evaporated ultrathin Al metal layer prior to the Al2O3 growth by ALD. Then the device was placed in a drying oven for 30 min to be naturally oxidized as a seed layer. With the assistance of an Al oxide seed layer, pinhole-free Al2O3 dielectrics growth on graphene was achieved. No detective defects or disorders were introduced into graphene by Raman characterization. Moreover, our fabricated graphene top-gated field effect transistor exhibited high mobility (∼6200 cm2V−1s−1) and high transconductance (∼117 μS). Thin dielectrics demonstrated a relative permittivity of 6.5 over a large area and a leakage current less than 1.6 pA/μm2. These results indicate that Al oxide functionalization is a promising pathway to achieve scaled gate dielectrics on graphene with high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For high-volume manufacturing of 2-D transistors, area-selective chemical reaction deposition (CVD) growth is able to provide good-quality 2-D layers and may be more effective than exfoliation from bulk crystals or wet/dry transfer of large-area as-grown 2-D layers. We have successfully grown continuous and uniform WS2 film comprising around seven layers by area-selective CVD approach using patterned tungsten source/drain metals as the seeds. The growth mechanism is inferred and supported by the transmission electron microscope (TEM) images, as well. The first top-gate MOSFETs of CVD-WS2 channels on SiOx/Si substrates are demonstrated to have good short channel electrical characteristics: ON-/OFF-ratio of 106, a subthreshold swing of 97 mV/decade, and nearly zero drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the role of TNFAIP3 deletions and NF-κB activation in extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL), nasal type.Methods: In total, 138 patients with ENKTCL were included. Activation of NF-κB pathway and expression of TNFAIP3 (A20) were examined by immunohistochemistry. TNFAIP3 was analyzed for deletions using FICTION (fluorescence immunophenotyping and interphase cytogenetics as a tool for investigating neoplasms), for mutations using Sanger sequencing, and for promoter methylation using methylation-specific sequencing.Results: NF-κB pathway activation was observed in 31.2% of cases (43/138), TNFAIP3 expression was negative in 15.2% of cases (21/138), and heterozygous TNFAIP3 deletion was observed in 35% of cases (35/100). TNFAIP3 exons 2 to 9 mutations and promoter methylation were not observed. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed patients with NF-κB pathway activation or TNFAIP3 heterozygous deletion to have a longer overall survival.Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that NF-κB activation and TNFAIP3 heterozygous deletion confer superior survival in patients with ENKTCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a challenge to recover lithium from the leaching solution of spent lithium-ion batteries, and crown ethers are potential extractants due to their selectivity to alkali metal ions. The theoretical calculations for the selectivity of crown ethers with different structures to Li ions in aqueous solutions were carried out based on the density functional theory. The calculated results of geometries, binding energies, and thermodynamic parameters show that 15C5 has the strongest selectivity to Li ions in the three crown ethers of 12C4, 15C5, and 18C6. B15C5 has a smaller binding energy but more negative free energy than 15C5 when combined with Li+, leading to that the lithium ions in aqueous solutions will combine with B15C5 rather than 15C5. The exchange reactions between B15C5 and hydrated Li+, Co2+, and Ni2+ were analyzed and the results show that B15C5 is more likely to capture Li+ from the hydrated ions in an aqueous solution containing Li+, Co2+, and Ni2+. This study indicates that it is feasible to extract Li ions selectively using B15C5 as an extractant from the leaching solution of spent lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional semiconductors, such as MoS2 are known to be highly susceptible to diverse molecular adsorbates on the surface during fabrication, which could adversely affect device performance. To ensure high device yield, uniformity and performance, the semiconductor industry has long employed wet chemical cleaning strategies to remove undesirable surface contaminations, adsorbates, and native oxides from the surface of Si wafers. A similarly effective surface cleaning technique for two-dimensional materials has not yet been fully developed. In this study, we propose a wet chemical cleaning strategy for MoS2 by using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The cleaning process not only preserves the intrinsic properties of monolayer MoS2, but also significantly improves the performance of monolayer MoS2 field-effect-transistors. Superior device on current of 12 μA·μm-1 for a channel length of 400 nm, contact resistance of 15 kΩ·μm, field-effect mobility of 15.5 cm2·V-1·s-1, and the average on-off current ratio of 108 were successfully demonstrated [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In practical two-sided matching problems, every agent usually cares about the matching result. If the result reaches or exceeds his/her expectation, he/she will experience elation; otherwise, he/she will experience disappointment. This is the psychological behavior of agents in two-sided matching, and the satisfaction degrees to the potential matching result of agents are closely related to the psychological behavior. However, the psychological behavior of agents is missing in the existing two-sided matching methods. The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for the two-sided matching problem considering psychological behavior of agents on both sides. First, the expected preference ordinals of each agent toward opposite agents are calculated based on the uncertain preference ordinals provided by agents. Then, the preference utility function is constructed, and the expected preference ordinals are transformed into preference utility values using the preference utility function. Next, based on the disappointment theory, the modified preference utility values are determined by calculating the disappointment values and elation values of each agent to the possible matching results. Furthermore, to maximize the sum of modified preference utility values of all agents on each side, a bi-objective optimization model is constructed, and the satisfied matching result can be obtained by solving the optimization model. Finally, a numerical example is used to illustrate the use of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: 2D layered heterostructures have attracted intensive interests due to their unique optical, transport, and interfacial properties. The laterally stitched heterojunction based on dissimilar 2D transition metal dichalcogenides forms an intrinsic p–n junction without the necessity of applying an external voltage. However, no scalable processes are reported to construct the devices with such lateral heterostructures. Here, a scalable strategy, two‐step and location‐selective chemical vapor deposition, is reported to synthesize self‐aligned WSe2–MoS2 monolayer lateral heterojunction arrays and demonstrates their light‐emitting devices. The proposed fabrication process enables the growth of high‐quality interfaces and the first successful observation of electroluminescence at the WSe2–MoS2 lateral heterojunction. The electroluminescence study has confirmed the type‐I alignment at the interface rather than commonly believed type‐II alignment. This self‐aligned growth process paves the way for constructing various 2D lateral heterostructures in a scalable manner, practically important for integrated 2D circuit applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The p53 protein plays a critical role in suppression of tumour growth; its regulation is not fully understood. Leukaemia/lymphoma-related factor (LRF) promotes tumour cell growth. This study tests a hypothesis that LRF inhibits p53 expression in colon cancer cells. In this study, human colon cancer cell lines, LIM1215 and HCT116 cells, were used. The expression of LRF and p53 in the cells was analysed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. We observed that the expression of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) was detected in both LIM1215 and HCT116 human colon cancer cells. Activation of PAR2 increased the expression of LRF and inhibited the p53 expression in the cancer cells. We also detected a complex of LRF and DAP5, one of the p53 gene transcription factors. The interaction of LRF and DAP5 resulted in the repression of p53 expression in the colon cancer cells. In conclusion, PAR2 activation increases the expression of LRF in colon cancer cells, which interacts with DAP5 to repress the p53 expression. Leukaemia/lymphoma-related factor may be a novel target in the treatment of colon cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]