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Precipitation δ18O has offered valuable insights into the evolution of the Asian monsoon. Recent researches focusing on precipitation Δ′17O has enhanced our understanding by offering new perspectives beyond those of δ18O, revealing insights into vapor sources and continental recycling. Nevertheless, there remains a lack of interannual triple oxygen isotope data, particularly in the Asian monsoon region. In this study, we analyzed the triple oxygen isotopes and hydrogen isotopes in monthly precipitation samples collected from Chongqing in Southwest China between 2019 and 2022 A.D. Seasonal variations in δD, δ18O, δ17O, and d‐excess values were observed, with lower values during the rainy season and higher values during the dry season, highlighting the impact of changes in moisture sources and local meteorological conditions on seasonal shifts in δD, δ18O, and δ17O. While, mean Δ′17O values were higher in rainy season and lower in dry season. Notably, during rainy season, there is a negative correlation between monthly Δ′17O values and the RH of the vapor source area, as well as a positive correlation with d‐excess. Recalculated Δ′17O values based on RH of oceanic moisture source, are higher than the measured values for this period, indicating the contribution of terrigenous moisture to precipitation in SW China. Precipitation Δ′17O values provide a more precise reflection of changes in moisture source, continental recycling, and evapotranspiration processes that drive water cycling compared Integrating modeling works in future will facilitate the use of precipitation Δ′17O values to quantify the impact of different moisture source on precipitation. Plain Language Summary: In the context of climatic warming, changes in water vapor source areas have substantial implications for the stability of regional water resources. Despite the importance of these changes, few studies have analyzed them using precipitation data from SW China. We conducted monthly measurements of isotopic compositions in precipitation samples collected in monsoonal SW China between 2019 and 2022 A.D. Seasonal variations in δD, δ18O, δ17O, and d‐excess revealed low values during the rainy season (May–October) and significantly higher values during the dry season (November–April). These variations are primarily attributed to different water vapor sources in distinct seasons. Moreover, we observed a negative correlation between precipitation Δ′17O and relative humidity in the source area of the water vapor during the rainy season, suggesting that Δ′17O contains valuable information about the water vapor's source area. Additionally, the relatively higher Δ′17O values observed in the rainy season imply the influence of continental recycling and evapotranspiration processes. Key Points: Characteristics of triple oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in precipitation were analyzed based on a 4‐year monitoring period in Southwest ChinaTriple oxygen isotopes in precipitation serve as indicators of the extent of isotopic fractionation in water vapor between different seasonsChanges in precipitation Δ′17O show a negative correlation with relative humidity from the moisture source area during the rainy season [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quaternary glacial climate oscillation and geographical isolation have significantly influenced the geographic distribution pattern and lineage evolution history of species. However, understanding how these factors specifically impact the genealogical structure of dominant Gramineous species in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) remains a subject of investigation. Elymus sibiricus L. (Gramineae), indigenous to the QTP and widely distributed in Eurasia, exhibits remarkable environmental adaptation and phenotypic diversity, making it an ideal candidate for phylogeographic studies. Based on the analysis of 175 complete chloroplast genome sequences, our results indicated that the ancestors of E. sibiricus originated from the QTP and underwent a complex migration history. After the speciation of E. sibiricus, several geo‐groups exhibited independent differentiation, showing minimal gene flow among them. The current phylogeographic patterns of E. sibiricus are a result of frequent climate alternations and the cold climate during the Quaternary glacial, as well as the presence of several geographical barriers that have restricted the gene flow among different geo‐groups. Our research has revealed for the first time that E. sibiricus has a multilineage origin, and its maternal donors are not limited to a single species. Furthermore, the high quality and mapping depth of the variant file provided reliable data for analyzing the patterns based on raw sequencing data. These findings enhance our understanding of the relationship between plant differentiation and climatic and geographical factors of Eurasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Protein oxidation is widely present in food systems and is susceptible to internal factors involving lipids and enzymes as well as external factors such as temperature and oxygen promoters. Protein oxidation leads to modification of the peptide skeletons and amino acid side chains, which in turn alters the structural characteristics of proteins, including protein cleavage, aggregation and derivative formation, and severely affects their physicochemical properties and bioavailability, thereby reducing the edible and storage qualities of foods. This review summarises the main factors that cause and regulate oxidation of plant protein, the effects of protein oxidation on food quality and strategies to ameliorate protein over‐oxidation, aiming to provide meaningful information for the development of high‐quality plant protein products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial muscles have attracted great attention as actuators and coiled and twisted monofilament actuators are considered the most promising ones. In the present work, the torsional properties of poly(hexamethylene adipamide) (PA66), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), and high‐strength PET (HTPET) monofilaments were investigated. Furthermore, cross‐linked PET (CPET) monofilaments were melt‐spun by adding 1 wt% of 2‐dimethoxy‐2‐phenylacetophenone (ultraviolet (UV) initiator) and triallyl iso‐cyanurate (cross‐linking agent) in PET chips under UV radiation. The HTPET monofilaments had the highest torsional modulus of 1.1 GPa followed by the PET (0.8 GPa) and PA66 (0.6 GPa) monofilaments. Subsequently, the HTPET monofilaments were subjected to heat treatments under tension. When the heat treatment time was 10 min, the mechanical properties of the HTPET monofilaments also tended to first increase and then decrease with the rise of heat treatment temperature. The molecular arrangement and crystal structure of the HTPET monofilaments were gradually improved with the prolongation of tension heat treatment. The tensile strength and initial modulus of the HTPET monofilaments were 871.4 MPa and 15.8 GPa, respectively. The mechanical properties of the CPET monofilaments first increased and then decreased with the increase of the drawing ratio. When the drawing ratio was 10, the CPET monofilament had a tensile strength of 717.2 MPa, an initial modulus of 16.7 GPa, and a maximum torsional modulus of 1.3 GPa. Therefore, both heat treatment and cross‐linking increased the mechanical strength of the PET monofilaments. CPET and HTPET are possible to be used as artificial muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Soybean meal is an important and inexpensive source of protein in food and animal feed, and contains anti‐nutritional factors such as trypsin inhibitors, antigenic proteins, oligosaccharides, phytic acids and lectins, which limit its application. Microbial fermentation has the capability to improve the nutritional value and biological activities of soybean meal by changing its natural composition. Fermentation results in the degradation of anti‐nutritional factors in soybean meal, an increased amount of small molecular protein peptides and improved content of isoflavone aglycone. However, the nutritional composition and biological activities of the resulting fermented products differ due to the different microbial species and conditions used for fermentation. Compared to soybean meal, fermented soybean meal has several beneficial effects such as digestibility, antioxidant and hypoallergenicity. The objective of this review is to discuss the fermentation processes of soybean meal, as well as outlines some biological activities associated with it. Furthermore, the current application of fermented soybean meal is also summarised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous phylogenetic analyses indicated that Polygonoideae, the largest subfamily in the Polygonaceae, is monophyletic. Phylogenetic relationships within the Polygonoideae have been substantially controversial. We collected 160 samples representing all currently recognized tribes for a more comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily. Here, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships of the Polygonoideae, inferred ancestral character states, and estimated the divergence time with a dense taxon sampling. This study corroborated and expanded previous results regarding the phylogenetic relationships of the Polygonoideae clade, and resolved the phylogenetic status of some controversial taxa by integrating molecular and morphological evidence. Phylogenetic analyses based on the complete plastomes suggested strong support for six primary clades that correspond to the most recent circumscription of tribes: Polygoneae, Rumiceae, Calligoneae, Pteroxygoneae, Fagopyreae, and Persicarieae. In addition, we provided further morphological data and assessed characters that supported different clades. The 3‐colpate pollen, 5‐parted perianth, and 3 styles were inferred to be the ancestral states of Polygonoideae. Divergence time estimation revealed that Polygonoideae originated around the late Cretaceous, and diversification was concentrated in the Eocene and Miocene. Time estimation indicated that the rapid uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and the intensification of the Asian monsoons might be potential driving forces for the diversification of Polygonoideae. Overall, this study advances our understanding of the phylogeny and diversification of the Polygonoideae and highlights the adaptive evolution of the taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The natural fermentation of multispecies microbial communities is responsible for unique flavors of winery regions of the eastern foothills of the Ningxia Helan Mountains in China. However, the participation of different microorganisms in the metabolic network for the development of important flavor substances is not clearly defined. Microbial population and diversity on different fermentation phases of Ningxia wine were analyzed by metagenomic sequencing approach. RESULTS: Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and ion chromatography were used to identify flavor components, and 13 esters, 13 alcohols, nine aldehydes and seven ketones were detected in volatile substances with odor activity values > 1, and eight organic acids were detected as important flavor components in young wine. Thus, 52 238 predicted protein‐coding genes from 24 genera were identified in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes level 2 pathways of global and overview maps, and the genes were primarily involved in amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism. Major microbial genera (Saccharomyces, Tatumella, Hanseniaspora, Lactobacillus, and Lachancea) were closely related to self‐characteristic compound metabolism and further contributed to wine flavor. CONCLUSION: This study clarifies the different metabolic roles of microorganisms in flavor formation during Ningxia wine spontaneous fermentation. Saccharomyces, dominant fungi involved in glycolysis and pyruvate metabolism, produces not only ethanol but also two important precursors, pyruvate and acetyl‐CoA, which are necessary for the tricarboxylic acid cycle, fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and flavor formation. Lactobacillus and Lachancea, dominant bacteria involved in lactic acid metabolism. Tatumella, dominant bacteria involved in amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and acetic acid metabolism to produce esters in the Shizuishan City region samples. These findings provide insights into the use of local functional strains to generate unique flavor formation, as well as improved stability and quality, in wine production. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While sustainability has been identified as a critical driver of innovation, our understanding of green innovation activities interrelationship with capability antecedents and consequences of both green exploration and green exploitation remains unclear. A preliminary framework is developed to guide hypotheses and provide insights into green innovation and its connections with new product advantage from a Resource‐Advantage (R‐A) perspective. A sample of 197 traditional Chinese manufacturing enterprises conducting green innovation is an input into a structural equation model. The results indicate that green exploitation has direct positive effects on both innovative eco‐friendly products' customer satisfaction and differentiation, whereas green exploration only positively impacts product differentiation. Importantly, green exploitation fully mediates the connections between capability antecedents (i.e., technology capability and market capability) and new product advantage (i.e., customer satisfaction and differentiation). By contrast, green exploration only fully mediates capability antecedents on new product differentiation. Our findings shed new light on exploration and exploitation research that shapes green innovation activities. Further, it contributes greater clarity into how manufacturing enterprises translate their technology and market capabilities into new eco‐friendly product advantage. Moreover, the results suggest implications for manufacturers to become both "green and competitive" as well as offer policy‐makers insights into shaping programs to assist green innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though urgently needed, high‐efficiency near‐infrared (NIR) organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) is still rare due to the energy‐gap law. Formation of intermolecular charge‐transfer aggregates (CTA) with nonadiabatic coupling suppression can decelerate non‐radiative decay rates for high‐efficiency NIR‐OLEDs. However, the aggregation effect of CTA is still not fully understood, which limits the rational design of CTA. Herein, two CTA molecules with a same π‐framework but different terminal substituents are developed to unveil the aggregation effect. In highly ordered crystalline states, the terminal substituents substantially affect the molecular packing motifs and intermolecular charge‐transfer states, thus leading to distinct photophysical properties. In comparison, in amorphous states, these two CTA demonstrate similar photophysical behaviors and properties due to their similar molecular packing and intermolecular interactions as evidenced by molecular dynamics simulations. Importantly, the formations of amorphous CTA trigger multifunction improvements such as aggregation‐induced NIR emission, aggregation‐induced thermally activated delayed fluorescence, self‐doping and self‐host features. The non‐doped OLEDs demonstrate NIR emissions centered at 788 and 803 nm, and high maximum external quantum efficiencies of 2.6% and 1.5% with small efficiency roll‐off, respectively. This study provides deeper insight into the aggregation effect of CTA and lays a foundation for the development of high‐efficiency NIR non‐doped OLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐covalent interactions play an essential role in directing the self‐assembly of hybrid organic–inorganic crystals. In hybrid halide perovskites, hydrogen bonding has been the paramount non‐covalent interaction. Here, we show another non‐covalent interaction, namely, the halogen bond interaction, that directs a symmetry‐breaking assembly in a new series of two‐dimensional (2D) perovskites (ICH2CH2NH3)2(CH3NH3)n−1PbnI3n+1 (n is the layer thickness, n=1–4). Structural analysis shows that the halogen bond strength varies with the layer thickness. For the odd number (n=1, 3) layered perovskites, stronger halogen interaction leads to centrosymmetric structures, whereas for the n=2 layered perovskites, weaker halogen bonds result in non‐centrosymmetric structures. Transient reflection spectroscopy shows a suppressed radiative recombination rate (k2≈0) and prolonged spin lifetime for n=2 structure, suggesting an enhanced Rashba band splitting effect. The structural asymmetry is further confirmed with a reversible bulk photovoltaic effect. Our work provides a new design strategy to enable hybrid perovskites with emerging properties and functionalities associated with structural asymmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral‐induced spin selectivity is recently demonstrated in a range of spin‐dependent optoelectronics and electrochemistry. Herein, a new type of amorphous chiral tartaric acid‐FeNi coordination polymer fabricated by electrodeposition methods, achieving both high spin‐polarization and high electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution, is reported. Circular dichroism shows signature optical activity from the coordination polymer. Conductive atomic force microscopy measurements demonstrate a high spin polarization through the chiral electrocatalyst, which significantly suppresses the formation of hydrogen peroxide byproducts compared to the achiral ones. These chiral Fe‐Ni electrocatalysts exhibit a low overpotential of 205 and 280 mV to achieve 10 and 100 mA cm−2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the clinical features, multimodal ultrasound features and multimodal ultrasound imaging features in predicting lymph node metastasis in the central cervical region of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods: A total of 129 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) confirmed by pathology were selected from our hospital from September 2020 to December 2022. According to the pathological results of cervical central lymph nodes, these patients were divided into metastatic group and non‐metastatic group. Patients were randomly sampled and divided into training group (n = 90) and verification group (n = 39) according to the ratio of 7:3. The independent risk factors for central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) were determined by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and multivariate logistic regression. Based on independent risk factors to build a prediction model, select the best diagnostic effectiveness of the prediction model sketch line chart, and finally, the line chart calibration and clinical benefits were evaluated. Results: A total of 8, 11 and 17 features were selected from conventional ultrasound images, shear wave elastography (SWE) images and contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) images to construct the Radscore of conventional ultrasound, SWE and CEUS, respectively. After univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, male, multifocal, encapsulation, iso‐high enhancement and multimodal ultrasound imaging score were independent risk factors for cervical CLNM in PTC patients (p < 0.05). Based on independent risk factors, a clinical combined with multimodal ultrasound feature model was constructed, and multimodal ultrasound Radscore were added to the clinical combined with multimodal ultrasound feature model to form a joint prediction model. In the training group, the diagnostic efficacy of combined model (AUC = 0.934) was better than that of clinical combined with multimodal ultrasound feature model (AUC = 0.841) and multimodal ultrasound radiomics model (AUC = 0.829). In training group and validation group, calibration curves show that the joint model has good predictive ability for cervical CLNM of PTC patients; The decision curve shows that most of the net benefits of the nematic chart are higher than those of clinical + multimodal ultrasound feature model and multimodal ultrasound radiomics model within a reasonable risk threshold range. Conclusion: Male, multifocal, capsular invasion and iso‐high enhancement are independent risk factors of CLNM in PTC patients, and the clinical plus multimodal ultrasound model based on these four factors has good diagnostic efficiency. The joint prediction model after adding multimodal ultrasound Radscore to clinical and multimodal ultrasound features has the best diagnostic efficiency, high sensitivity and specificity, which is expected to provide objective basis for accurately formulating individualized treatment plans and evaluating prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducing chirality into the metal‐halide hybrids has enabled many emerging properties including chiroptical activity, spin‐dependent transport, and ferroelectricity. However, most of the chiral metal‐halide hybrids to date are non‐emissive, and the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we show a new strategy to turn on the circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) in chiral metal‐halide hybrids. We demonstrate that alloying Sb3+ into chiral indium‐chloride hybrids dramatically increases the photoluminescence quantum yield in two new series of chiral indium‐antimony chlorides. These materials exhibit strong CPL signals with tunable energy and a high dissymmetry factor up to 1.5×10−2. Mechanistic studies reveal that the emission originates from the self‐trapped excitons centered in 5s2 Sb3+. Moreover, near‐ultraviolet pumped white light is demonstrated with a polarization up to 6.0 %. Our work demonstrates new strategies towards highly luminescent chiral metal‐halide hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual‐state emissive (DSE) materials with efficient emission both in solution and in the solid state can be used in complex environments. In this work, we demonstrate the synthesis of DSE materials by finely tuning the electronic structures of luminogens. Four carbazole‐cyanostyrene compounds with different terminal groups, i. e. CZ‐Ph‐H without additional substituent, CZ‐Ph‐TA with an N,N‐dimethylamino functional group, CZ‐Ph‐CN with a cyano group, and CZ‐Ph‐TB with a t‐butyl group, have been synthesized and their photophysical properties are fully investigated by spectroscopic studies, theoretical calculations, and crystallographic analysis. Interestingly, while CZ‐Ph‐H, CZ‐Ph‐CN, and CZ‐Ph‐TB are aggregation‐induced emissive (AIE) molecules only showing strong emission in the aggregated states (aggregate suspension and solid powder), CZ‐Ph‐TA is a DSE molecule showing strong emission in both dilute solution and aggregated states. In addition, CZ‐Ph‐TA could serve as a fluorescent probe for trace water analysis in organic solvents and picric acid (PA) detection in both dilute solution and aggregate suspension. CZ‐Ph‐TA also exhibits reversible mechanofluorochromism with a spectral shift of 21 nm. The synthesis of the N,N‐dimethylamino‐substituted molecule with excellent photophysical properties represents an important attempt to achieve DSE by finely tuning the electronic structures of molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its simple construction, the linear induction motor (LIM) provides a linear driving force without any intermediate motion translation system. LIMs are widely used in various industrial applications, including maglev rail transit and the national defense industry. However, LIMs are affected by the end effect and suffer from problems such as low efficiencies and low power factors. To make improvements, in this paper, an ensemble multi‐objective optimal design method for a short primary double‐sided linear induction motor (SP‐DLIM) is proposed. First, a simplified Quasi‐3D equivalent circuit model (ECM) for an SP‐DLIM applicable to the model in this paper is derived. The 3‐D transient finite element method and an experimental prototype are utilised to prove that the derived ECM is accurate enough to solve the SP‐DLIM optimisation problem. Second, an ensemble multi‐objective optimal design method of SP‐DLIM is presented, with proposed design constraints and four different optimisation problems. Then, an improved differential evolutionary (IDE) algorithm is proposed to optimise the efficiency, power factor, and tooth weight of the motor. The three‐dimensional time‐stepping finite element method is utilised to verify the validity of the optimisation method. Further, a comparison of the results suggests that the IDE yields the best performance to those of other advanced heuristic algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer remains the most common malignancy in females around the world. Recently, a growing number of studies have focused on gene dysregulation. In our previous study, Krüppel‐like factors (KLFs) were found to play essential roles in breast cancer development, among which KLF2 could function as a tumor suppressor. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Methods: miR‐92a‐3p was identified as the upstream regulator of KLF2 by starBase v.3.0. The regulation of KLF2 by miR‐92a‐3p was verified by a series of in vitro and in vivo assays. Further exploration revealed that Baculoviral IAP Repeat Containing 5 (BIRC5) was the target of KLF2. ChIP assay, dual‐luciferase reporter analysis, quantitative real‐time PCR, and western blot were performed for verification. Results: miR‐92a‐3p functioned as a tumor promoter by inhibiting KLF2 by binding to its 3'‐untranslated region (3'‐UTR). In addition, KLF2 could transcriptionally suppress the expression of BIRC5. Conclusion: Collectively, our results uncovered the miR‐92a‐3p/KLF2/BIRC5 axis in breast cancer and provided a potential mechanism for breast cancer development, which may serve as promising strategies for breast cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current predictive tools assess catheter‐related thrombosis (CRT) in patients with lung cancer in a static manner at a single time point of catheterization. The subsequent hazard changes over time are unknown. The conditional catheter‐related thrombosis‐free probability (CCFP) can provide dynamic information on continual CRT‐free expectations. This study aimed to assess the CCFP and hazard rates based on risk categories and various venous access devices (VADs). Methods: This retrospective study reviewed 939 patients with lung cancer with peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) or central venous catheters (CVCs) identified at the National Clinical Research Center for Cancer between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018. The incidence of CRT has also been reported. Patients were stratified into low‐ and high‐risk groups according to multivariate Cox regression analyses. CCFP is defined as the CRT‐free probability given that patients have no CRT for a definite time. Results: A total of 507 patients with PICCs and 432 patients with CVCs were included in this study. The 3‐month CCFP increased from 74.2% at catheter insertion to 93.6% at 3 months. The hazards of CRT in the first month were highest (16.4%) and slightly thereafter. The high‐risk group initially had a higher (21.4%) but significantly decreased CRT hazard after 2 months (8.3%), whereas the low‐risk group maintained a comparable lower risk hazard of less than 5% after 1 month. In the overall cohort, patients with CVCs had lower CRT probability than those with PICCs (HR, 1.76; 95% CI: 1.28–2.41; p < 0.01). Further analysis demonstrated that compared with PICCs, CVCs provided a CRT‐free benefit in low‐risk patients (p = 0.02) but not in high‐risk patients (p = 0.06). Conclusions: CCFP increased, and the hazards of CRT decreased over time in a risk‐dependent manner in patients with lung cancer. These valuable dynamic data may help optimize risk‐adjusted choices of VADs and risk‐adjusted prophylactic anticoagulation strategies for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationally optimizing the photoluminescence performance via accurate structural modulation is one of most important and challenging issues for hybrid halides. Herein, a viable crystal dimensional reduction strategy is proposed to reasonably enhance the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of hybrid antimony halide. Specifically, a synthetic technique is developed and new 1D [DMPZ]SbCl5 ∙ H2O (DP‐SbCl5) is sliced to 0D [DMPZ]2SbCl6 ∙ Cl ∙ (H2O)2 (DP‐SbCl6) with crystal dimensional reduction from infinite [SbCl5]2− chain to discrete [SbCl6]3− octahedron. Comparing with nonluminescent 1D DP‐SbCl5, 0D DP‐SbCl6 displays highly efficient broadband yellow light emission with enhanced PLQY up to 75.94%. First‐principles calculation demonstrates that 0D DP‐SbCl6 features more flat and narrow band structure, which promotes the photoelectron localization and increases the quantum confinement, and finally boosts the luminescence efficiency. Together highly efficient and ultra‐stable luminescence performance enable DP‐SbCl6 as excellent down‐conversion broadband yellow phosphor to successfully fabricate white light emitting diodes with a high color rendering index of 92. This work provides a novel structural modulation strategy of crystal dimensional reduction to rationally optimize the PL performance of hybrid metal halides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of flexible electronics, energy fabric is a promising alternative for the power supply for them. Sustainable solar‐harvesting textile with comfortable wearing experience and stylish appearance are essential to the future lifestyle for driving smart electronics. Different from form the photovoltaic textile based on a shuttle‐flying process, the couching embroidery process is another traditional textile technology by reliably stitching ribbons and wires at any desired length onto fabric to make nice‐looking fabric at an industrial scale. Photovoltaic textiles woven from shuttle‐flying process may be too thick for a light and breathable summer dress. Herein, a foldable and stretchable all‐solid photovoltaic gauze kerchief with colorful patterns is presented, which was directly assembled from short photoanode cables via an industrial‐scalable couching embroidery strategy. Due to a reliable electric connection, the light and breathable textile, which is comfortable for summer wearing, can provide any desired electric output for wearable electronics. Furthermore, the couching embroidering technology can also offer ideas for other functional fiber devices to integrate on the textile, which will render the textile with almost unlimited functions in the commercial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent dementia, is identified as a neurodegenerative disease arising from a degenerative disturbance in the central nervous system. A previous study reported that TTP488 could ameliorate symptoms in patients with mild AD, but the underlying mechanisms need to be studied further. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore the role of TTP488 in the development of an AD cell model. Administration of TTP448 in an AD cell model reduced the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α], reversed the inhibitory role of Aβ on cell proliferation and viability, and decreased Aβ‐triggered cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Furthermore, Aβ treatment induced activation of JAK1/STAT3/NFκB/IRF3 pathway as well as NLRP3 expression, and TTP488 administration partially reversed the activation of this pathway and NLRP3 expression. Use of WP1160, a STAT3 agonist, re‐activated the downstream STAT3/NFκB/IRF3 pathway and NLRP3 expression. Moreover, we found that WP1160 counteracted the role of TTP488 in Aβ‐induced SH‐SY5Y cells' viability, inflammation, apoptosis, and ROS production. Significance of the study: This study explores the role of TTP488 in the development of an Alzheimer's disease (AD) cell model and confirms that TTP488 administration notably promotes cell proliferation and reduces apoptosis, inflammatory factor expression, and reactive oxygen species generation. Further, this study suggests that the NLRP3‐relevant JAK1/STAT3/P65/IRF3 signalling pathway is related to AD pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commercialization of Li−S batteries is hindered by the shuttling of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), the sluggish sulfur redox kinetics as well as the low sulfur utilization during charge/discharge processes. Herein, a free‐standing cathode material was developed, based on Fe‐doped NiSe2 nanosheets grown on activated carbon cloth substrates (Fe‐NiSe2/ACC) for high‐performance Li−S batteries. Fe‐doping in NiSe2 plays a key role in the electronic structure modulation of NiSe2, enabling improved charge transfer with the adsorbed LiPSs molecules, stronger interactions with the active sulfur species and higher electrical conductivity. Effective promotion of the sulfur redox kinetics and enhanced sulfur utilization were achieved under high areal sulfur loadings. The stronger interactions with LiPSs together with the unique 3D structure of Fe‐NiSe2/ACC also induced the transformation of Li2S2/Li2S growth from conventional 2D films to 3D particles, significantly eliminating the barriers of solid nucleation and growth during the phase transition of liquid LiPSs to solid Li2S2/Li2S. With a high sulfur loading of 9.9 mg cm−2, the Fe‐NiSe2/ACC cathode enabled a high area capacity of 9.14 mAh cm−2 with a low average decay of 0.11 % per cycle over 200 cycles at 0.1 C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Patients hesitate to consent to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) because of the fear of memory impairment. The mechanisms underlying this impairment are unclear, but several observations suggest hippocampal alterations may be involved. We investigated whether ECT‐induced change in hippocampal volume correlates with memory impairment. Methods: Using a 3 T MRI scanner, we acquired brain images and assessed cognitive performance in 22 severely depressed patients at three time points: (1) before ECT series, (2) within one week after the series, and (3) at six‐month follow‐up. The hippocampus was segmented into subregions using FreeSurfer. The dentate gyri (DG) were the primary regions of interest (ROIs) and major hippocampal subregions secondary ROIs. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry and verbal memory using the Verbal Learning subtest. The linear mixed model and the repeated‐measures correlation were used for statistical analyses. Results: ECT induced an increase in the right and left DG volume with co‐occurring worsening in verbal memory, and these changes were within‐patients negatively correlated (right DG, rrm = −0.85, df = 18, p = 0.0000002; left DG, rrm = −0.58, df = 18, p = 0.008). At a six‐month follow‐up, the volume of both DG decreased with a co‐occurring improvement in verbal memory, and these changes were negatively correlated in the right DG (rrm = −0.64, df = 15, p = 0.005). Volume increases in 14 secondary ROIs were also negatively correlated with memory impairment. Conclusion: ECT‐related transient increases in the volume of major hippocampal subregions within‐patients are associated with memory impairment. Hippocampal alterations following ECT should be the focus in searching for causes of the cognitive side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of stroke. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between various inflammatory risk markers and ischemic stroke outcome and subtype. Methods: A total of 3,013 ischemic stroke patients who were admitted to our hospital from 01/01/2016 to 12/30/2018 were retrospectively studied. Stroke subtypes were defined by the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) classification. Levels of five common inflammatory markers including white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil, lymphocyte, serum C‐reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) were measured, and eleven conventional risk factors were further evaluated in the prediction of overall mortality as well as three functional outcomes defined by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and the Barthel Index (BI). Independent predictors of outcome were identified by multivariate logistic regression, and an importance score measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve for each predictor using a Naive Bayes model was reported. Results: Neutrophil and WBC were significantly higher in large‐artery atherosclerosis (LAA) and cardioembolism (CE) subtype. In contrast, lymphocyte was significantly higher in small‐artery occlusion (SAO). Neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio and CRP level were the best independent predictors, after adjustment for traditional risk factors and TOAST subtype for all four types of outcomes. Conclusion: Inflammatory risk markers including neutrophil, lymphocyte, and CRP may have strong independent prediction values for stroke outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology, market, and design are important driving forces for enterprise innovation activities. Unfortunately, their combined effects on exploratory and exploitative innovations are less clear, especially for micro and small businesses critical to the economy. By using data from a two‐stage survey of 357 micro and small‐sized tech enterprises (MSTEs) in the fast‐developing region of Foshan, this study investigates how diverse complementarities between technology, market, and design capabilities contribute to exploratory innovation and exploitative innovation. The results reveal how distinct contributions from the capabilities affect exploratory and exploitative innovations in differentiated ways. Specifically, exploratory innovation benefits from the three‐way complementarity of technology, market, and design capabilities, whereas exploitative innovation only benefits from the two‐way complementarities between technology and market capabilities and between market and design capabilities. These findings contribute to the resource‐based view (RBV) literature, while providing managers with guidelines to improve capability investment and allocation decisions that foster exploratory and exploitative innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Leukemia is a lethal disease that is harmful to bone marrow and overall blood health. The classification of white blood cell images is crucial for leukemia diagnosis. The purpose of this study is to classify white blood cells by extracting discriminative information from cell segmentation and combining it with the fine‐grained features. We propose a hybrid adversarial residual network with support vector machine (SVM), which utilizes the extracted features to improve the classification accuracy for human peripheral white cells. Methods: Firstly, we segment the cell and nucleus by utilizing an adversarial residual network, which contains a segmentation network and a discriminator network. To extract features that can handle the inter‐class consistency problem effectively, we introduce the adversarial residual network. Then, we utilize convolutional neural network (CNN) features and histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) features, which can extract discriminative features from images of segmented cell nuclei. To utilize the representative features fully, a discriminative network is introduced to deal with neighboring information at different scales. Finally, we combine the vectors of HOG features with those of CNN features and feed them into a linear SVM to classify white blood cells into six types. Results: We used three methods to evaluate the effect of leukocyte classification based on 5000 leukocyte images acquired from a local hospital. The first approach is to use the CNN features as the input of SVM to classify leukocytes, which achieved 94.23% specificity, 95.10% sensitivity, and 94.41% accuracy. The use of the HOG features for SVM achieved 83.50% specificity, 87.50% sensitivity, and 85.00% accuracy. The use of combined CNN and HOG features achieved 94.57% specificity, 96.11% sensitivity, and 95.93% accuracy. Conclusions: We propose a novel hybrid adversarial‐discriminative network for the classification of microscopic leukocyte images. It improves the accuracy of cell classification, reduces the difficulty and time pressure of doctors' work, and economizes the valuable time of doctors in daily clinical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary of main observation and conclusion: The catalytic asymmetric 1,3‐dipolar [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with stilbenes has been established, affording structurally diverse pyrrolidines bearing four contiguous stereocenters with stereo‐diversity in generally high yields and good to excellent stereoselectivities (up to 98% yield, 99 : 1 dr, >99% ee). Meanwhile, this strategy allowed the formal synthesis of antitumor drug RG7388 (Phase III clinical study) and its analogues in high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A green electrochemical method of preparing diacid‐disulfides has been developed, in which an S−S bond is formed by electrochemically oxidative coupling of S−H/S−H employing redox active NaI as mediator. The reactions are carried out in a simple undivided cell under constant current condition at room temperature and complete in 1.3 h to afford a series of diacid‐disulfides with up to 97 % yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Yam is a common 'medicine food homology' vegetable in Asia, and its peel is often considered a food residue during processing or cooking. In this work, the effects of hydrogen peroxide modification on the dietary fibres (DFs) from Chinese yam peel (CYP) were investigated. The structural characteristics of soluble dietary fibre (SDF), insoluble dietary fibre (IDF), modified soluble dietary fibre (MSDF) and modified insoluble dietary fibre (MIDF) were analysed using Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, granularity analysis, scanning electron microscopy and GC‐MS (monosaccharide composition). As results, after modification with hydrogen peroxide, the sizes of the DFs were reduced and MIDF exposed more cellulose. Experiments on the physicochemical and functional properties of DFs showed that MSDF and MIDF obtained a better water holding capacity, oil absorption capacity, swelling capacity and absorption abilities with altered structures, which is of great importance in food processing and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural and theoretical studies of four novel 5,6‐dehydronorcantharidine (DNCA)/norcantharidine (NCA) derivatives, namely (3aR,4S,7R,7aS)‐2‐phenyl‐3a,4,7,7a‐tetrahydro‐4,7‐epoxy‐1H‐isoindole‐1,3(2H)‐dione, C14H11NO3 (DNCA‐A), (3aR,4S,7R,7aS)‐2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐3a,4,7,7a‐tetrahydro‐4,7‐epoxy‐1H‐isoindole‐1,3(2H)‐dione, C14H10N2O5 (DNCA‐NA), (3aR,4S,7R,7aS)‐2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐3a,4,5,6,7,7a‐hexahydro‐1H‐4,7‐epoxyisoindole‐1,3(2H)‐dione, C14H12N2O5 (NCA‐NA), and (3aR,4S,7R,7aS)‐2‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐3a,4,5,6,7,7a‐hexahydro‐1H‐4,7‐epoxyisoindole‐1,3(2H)‐dione, C10H13NO4 (NCA‐AE), are reported. The supramolecular interactions and single‐crystal structural characteristics of these molecules, together with the crystal structures of four other similar molecules, i.e.NCA‐A (the 4‐phenyl derivative of NCA‐NA), DNCA‐AE (the 5,6‐unsaturated derivative of NCA‐AE), DNCA and NCA, were analysed. Surprisingly, DNCA‐A and NCA‐A, as well as DNCA–NA and NCA‐NA, proved to be isomorphic, while DNCA‐AE and NCA‐AE, as well as DNCA and NCA, have very different crystal structures. These are very rare isostructural examples between unsaturated and saturated oxanorbornene/oxanorbornane derivatives. To further explore how noncovalent interactions (NCIs) affect the degree of isomorphism in this particular series of rigid molecules where there is a fairly limited conformational degree of freedom, all four pairs of crystal structures were analyzed in parallel. The differentiation in NCIs which entails the packing mode of similar molecules is supported by energy calculations based on real or exchanged crystal structures. Our results show that minor structural differences may result in very different supramolecular interactions, and so lead to altered packing modes in the crystalline solids. Even if isostructurality sometimes occurs, the possibility of various molecular packing types cannot be ruled out. On the other hand, isomorphism may just be the result of kinetic possibilities instead of relative thermodynamic stabilities. Though crystal structure prediction is formidable, the comparison method based on existing crystal structures and quantum calculations can be used to predict the probability of isomorphism. This understanding will help us to design new norbornene derivatives with specified structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight novel Schiff bases derived from benzil dihydrazone (BDH) or benzil monohydrazone (BMH) and four fused‐ring carbonyl compounds (3‐formylindole, FI; 3‐acetylindole, AI; 3‐formyl‐1‐methylindole, MFI; 1‐formylnaphthalene, FN) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ESI–QTOF–MS, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, as well as single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. They are (1Z,2Z)‐1,2‐bis{(E)‐[(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)methylidene]hydrazinylidene}‐1,2‐diphenylethane (BDHFI), C32H24N6, (1Z,2Z)‐1,2‐bis{(E)‐[1‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)ethylidene]hydrazinylidene}‐1,2‐diphenylethane (BDHAI), C34H28N6, (1Z,2Z)‐1,2‐bis{(E)‐[(1‐methyl‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)methylidene]hydrazinylidene}‐1,2‐diphenylethane (BMHMFI) acetonitrile hemisolvate, C34H28N6·0.5CH3CN, (1Z,2Z)‐1,2‐bis{(E)‐[(naphthalen‐1‐yl)methylidene]hydrazinylidene}‐1,2‐diphenylethane (BDHFN), C36H26N4, (Z)‐2‐{(E)‐[(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)methylidene]hydrazinylidene}‐1,2‐diphenylethanone (BMHFI), C23H17N3O, (Z)‐2‐{(E)‐[1‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)ethylidene]hydrazinylidene}‐1,2‐diphenylethanone (BMHAI), C24H19N3O, (Z)‐2‐{(E)‐[(1‐methyl‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)methylidene]hydrazinylidene}‐1,2‐diphenylethanone (BMHMFI), C24H19N3O, and (Z)‐2‐{(E)‐[(naphthalen‐1‐yl)methylidene]hydrazinylidene}‐1,2‐diphenylethanone (BMHFN) C25H18N2O. Moreover, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the eight title compounds was evaluated against two tumour cell lines (A549 human lung cancer and 4T1 mouse breast cancer) and two normal cell lines (MRC‐5 normal lung cells and NIH 3T3 fibroblasts) by MTT assay. The results indicate that four (BDHMFI, BDHFN, BMHMFI and BMHFN) are inactive and the other four (BDHFI, BDHAI, BMHFI and BMHAI) show severe toxicities against human A549 and mouse 4T1 cells, similar to the standard cisplatin. All the compounds exhibited weaker cytotoxicity against normal cells than cancer cells. The Swiss Target Prediction web server was applied for the prediction of protein targets. After analyzing the differences in frequency hits between these active and inactive Schiff bases, 18 probable targets were selected for reverse docking with the Surflex‐dock function in SYBYL‐X 2.0 software. Three target proteins, i.e. human ether‐á‐go‐go‐related (hERG) potassium channel, the inhibitor of apoptosis protein 3 and serine/threonine‐protein kinase PIM1, were chosen as the targets. Finally, the ligand‐based structure–activity relationships were analyzed based on the putative protein target (hERG) docking results, which will be used to design and synthesize novel hERG ion channel inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By integrating research on product design with ideas from marketing and consumer perceptions, this paper formulates a set of coherent hypotheses about the effects of tripartite design dimensions on consumer perceptions and responses. We conduct two surveys on incremental and radical technology innovations, respectively, and accordingly get two different samples to test the hypotheses. Empirical results reveal that the effects of aesthetic and functional dimensions on consumer purchase intention and word of mouth vary across two types of innovations. Specifically, for incrementally innovative products, aesthetic and functional dimensions influence consumer purchase intention and word of mouth, both directly and indirectly, through the mediation of consumer perceived quality. By contrast, for radically innovative products, the effects of aesthetic and functional dimensions on purchase intention and word of mouth are totally mediated by perceived quality. Additionally, the effects of symbolic dimension on consumer perceptions and responses achieve consistency across radical and incremental technology innovations. That is, the higher the level of symbolic dimension, the stronger purchase intention and the better word of mouth there will be, whereas the direct influence of symbolic dimension on perceived quality is not significant in either innovation category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel Schiff bases derived from indole and biphenyl have been designed and synthesized, namely 3‐((E)‐{(E)‐[1‐(biphenyl‐4‐yl)ethylidene]hydrazinylidene}methyl)‐1‐methyl‐1H‐indole (3‐BEHMI) acetonitrile monosolvate, C24H21N3·CH3CN, and 3‐((E)‐{(E)‐[1‐(biphenyl‐4‐yl)ethylidene]hydrazinylidene}methyl)‐1‐methyl‐1H‐indole (3‐BEHEI) acetonitrile monosolvate, C24H21N3·CH3CN. Their structures were characterized by elemental analysis, quadrupole time‐of‐flight MS, NMR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The single‐crystal packing structure of 3‐BEHMI is largely dominated by C—H...π interactions and weak van der Waals interactions. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the two title compounds have been evaluated against two tumour cell lines (A549 human lung cancer and 4T1 mouse breast cancer) and two normal cell lines (MRC‐5 normal lung cells and NIH 3T3 fibroblasts) by MTT assay. The results indicate that 3‐BEHEI exhibits a slightly weaker antiproliferative capability (IC50 = ∼50 µM) than the previously reported similar Schiff base 3‐BEHI (IC50 = ∼20 µM). This is in line with docking results. 3‐BEHMI demonstrates a weak cytotoxic activity, with IC50 values around 110 µM, which disagrees with its docking results. Overall, the tested compounds manifest relevant cytotoxicities on the selected cancer cell lines and normal cell lines. The UV–Vis and fluorescence spectra were recorded and reproduced through the TD‐DFT method with four types of hybrid density functionals, including B3LYP, M062X, PBE1PBE and WB97XD. Two novel Schiff bases derived from indole and biphenyl have been designed, synthesized and fully characterized. As part of our systematic work exploring these kinds of Schiff bases, the present results provide preliminary structure–activity relationships concerning the methyl‐group replacements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unexpected global disorder (co-existing rotational disorder and glide disorder) has been observed during an X-ray investigation of the crystal structure of (E)-[1-(biphenyl-4-yl)ethylidene]hydrazine, C14H14N2, at room temperature. When the temperature decreases to 273 K, the disorder disappears, but the quality of the data set is low. The diffraction data were collected again at 110 K. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and polarizing-microscopy experiments, as well as a fourth set of single-crystal data collected at 283 K, proved that the order-disorder transformation occurs continuously. The analyses of these crystal structures and full-range relaxed potential energy surface scans showed that this kind of global disorder is not very difficult to achieve inside the crystal. Experimental and theoretical studies via UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra impart an understanding on the prediction methods of optical properties, which are essential for the rational design of biphenyl-based materials with pre-defined properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spleen is a unique lymphoid organ that plays a key role in immune regulation. Interferon‐tau induces upregulation of interferon‐stimulated gene 15‐kDa protein (ISG15) in the uterus during early pregnancy in sheep. Prostaglandins (PGs) have important effects in both the activation and the inhibition of immune response through an autocrine and paracrine manner. In this study, splenic samples were obtained at Day 16 of the estrous cycle, and Days 13, 16, and 25 of pregnancy from ewes, and the expression of ISG15 and PG synthases, including cyclooxygenase 1 (COX‐1), COX‐2, PGE synthase (PTGES), and PGF synthase (aldo‐keto reductase family 1, member B1, AKR1B1), was detected through quantitative real‐time PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry analysis. Our results showed that there was upregulation of COX‐2 mRNA and protein at Day 25 of pregnancy, and ISG15 mRNA and conjugated proteins, and AKR1B1 mRNA and dimer at Days 16 and 25 of pregnancy. COX‐2 and AKR1B1 proteins were limited to the capsule, trabeculae, and splenic cords. However, the expression of COX‐1 and PTGES was not affected by early pregnancy. In conclusion, ISG15‐conjugated proteins, COX‐2 and AKR1B1 upregulated in maternal spleen during early pregnancy, which may be beneficial for the placentation in sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The proteolytic ubiquitin‐proteasome system (UPS) is a main control mechanism of tau degradation in eukaryotic cells. Although the UPS is an integral regulator for tau turnover in healthy neurons, preliminary data suggests that the pathological tau in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is polyubiquitinated. This is an intriguing conundrum where the polyubiquitinylation of tau does not result in the degradation of the protein by the UPS. This suggests that the capacity of the UPS is limited or that the UPS is unable to degrade this form of tau. In this study, we aim to validate this potential correlation between the polyubiquitination of tau and AD, which could perhaps provide more clarity on the specific mechanisms of toxicity for AD. Method: We examined postmortem brain tissue (inferior temporal gyrus) of 11 cases across AD neuropathological spectrum (Table 1). All slides underwent multiplex immunofluorescence for four antibodies: NeuN (neurons), FK2 (to detect polyubiquitin), T231 (ptau), and GFAP (astroglia), followed by scanning and quantification on digital slides. We quantified the percentage of neurons positive for tau (T231) and polyubiquitination (FK2) and analyzed the spearman correlation and linear regression model (LRM) corrected by age on death and sex. Result: Cases represent a spectrum of AD stage. As expected, the proportion of neurons with tau inclusions increase along AD progression. We failed to identify neurons positive for FK2 (polyubiquitination) in the absence of tau and neurons. Moreover, we observed a direct correlation between higher Braak Stages and proportion of neurons with polyubiquitin immunoprecipitations (Figure 1, ρ = 0.89, p = 2.33e‐4). Conclusion: Neurons with polyubiquitin immunoprecipitations increase in number along the AD continuum. These neurons tend to accumulate phospho‐tau inclusions suggesting a polyubiquitination of tau in AD. Further studies are needed to identify the mechanisms underlying the lack of tau degradation by the UPS in this situation, which could lead to treatment opportunities for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A global glide disorder has been discovered during an X‐ray investigation of the crystal structure of (Z)‐2‐[(E)‐(4‐methoxybenzylidene)hydrazinylidene]‐1,2‐diphenylethanone (MHDE, C22H18N2O2) at room temperature. In another crystal, however, such disorder disappears (still at room temperature). Even though the disorder may be partly due to the poor quality of the harvested crystal, the structure can shed light on the nature of disorder. With the help of quantum chemical calculations, it is found that the global disorder seems to be connected with the need for stabilization of the somewhat rigid but mobile and unstable molecular structure. The most relevant feature driving the packing of the disordered structure concerns the slight perturbations (such as glide) of two or more disorder components (fractional occupancies) distributed throughout the crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simultaneous realization of high quantum yield and exciton utilizing efficiency (ηr) is still a formidable challenge in near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent organic light-emitting diodes (FOLEDs). Here, to achieve a high quantum yield, a novel NIR dye, 4,9-bis(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-naphtho[2,3- c][1,2,5]selenadiazole, is designed and synthesized with a large highest occupied molecular orbital/lowest unoccupied molecular orbital overlap and an aggregation-induced emission property, which demonstrates a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 27% at 743 nm in toluene and 29% at 723 nm in a blend film. For a high ηr, an orange-emitting thermally activated delayed fluorescent material, 1,2-bis(9,9-dimethyl-9,10-dihydroacridine)-4,5-dicyanobenzene, is chosen as the sensitizing host to harvest triplet excitons in devices. The optimized devices achieve a good ηr of 45.7% and a high external quantum efficiency up to 2.65% at 730 nm, with a very small efficiency roll-off of 2.41% at 200 mA cm−2, which are among the most efficient values for NIR-FOLEDs over 700 nm. The effective utilization of triplet excitons via the thermally activated delayed fluorescence-sensitizing host will pave a way to realize high-efficiency NIR-FOLEDs with small efficiency roll-off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing probes for real-time imaging of dynamic processes in living cells is a continuous challenge. Herein, a novel near-infrared (NIR) photoluminescence probe having a long lifetime was exploited for photoluminescence lifetime imaging (PLIM) using an iridium-alkyne complex. This probe offers the benefits of deep-red to NIR emission, a long Stokes shift, excellent cell penetration, low cytotoxicity, and good resistance to photobleaching. This example is the first PLIM probe applicable to the click reaction of copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) with remarkable lifetime shifts of 414 ns, before and after click reaction. The approach fully eliminates the background interference and distinguishes the reacted probes from the unreacted probes, thus enabling the wash-free imaging of the newly synthesized proteins within single living cells. Based on the unique properties of the iridium complexes, it is anticipated to have applications for imaging other processes within living cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Right ventricular diverticulum is a rare form of cardiac deformity, with a very few cases caused by pericarditis. A 60-year-old man sought medication because of chest congestion and shortness of breath. CT showed a soft tissue mass at the heart apex and pericardial calcification. Doppler echocardiography demonstrated a mixed cystic solid mass at the right ventricular apex. Surgical cure confirmed the diagnosis of right ventricular apex diverticulum with pericarditis. Echocardiography is contributive to the diagnosis of ventricular diverticula in measuring their size and showing the local thinning of the ventricular wall with localized bulging and abnormal motion. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:531-534, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and potentially active dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor, namely 3-({( E)-[( E)-1-(biphenyl-4-yl)ethylidene]hydrazinylidene}methyl)-1 H-indole (BEHI) acetonitrile disolvate, C23H19N3·2CH3CN, has been designed and synthesized. The structure of BEHI was characterized by elemental analysis, Q-TOF (quadrupole time-of-flight) MS, NMR, UV-Vis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The antitumour activity of the target molecule was evaluated by the MTT method. Results indicated that BEHI exhibited rather potent cytotoxic activity against human A549 (IC50 = 20.5 µ M) and mouse breast 4T1 (IC50 = 18.5 µ M) cancer cell lines. Meanwhile, to rationalize its potencies in the target, BEHI was docked into DHODH and the interactions with the active site residues were analyzed. Single-crystal structure analysis indicated that hydrogen bonds are present only between BEHI and acetonitrile solvent molecules in the asymmetric unit. The interplay of weak π-π stacking and weak C(N)-H...π interactions between neighbouring BEHI molecules play crucial roles in the formation of the final supramolecular frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light harvesting (LH) and carrier transport abilities of a photoactive layer, which are both crucial for optoelectronic devices such as solar cells and photodetectors (PDs), are typically hard to be synergistically improved. Taking perovskite as an example, a freeze-drying recrystallization method is used to construct porous films with improvements of both LH and carrier transport ability. During the freeze-drying casting process, the rapid solvent evaporation produces massive pores, the sizes of which can be adjusted to exploit the Mie scattering for enhancement of the LH ability. Meanwhile, owing to the strong iconicity, the interface between perovskite nanocrystals fused during recrystallization, which favors carrier transport. Subsequently, PDs based on these Mie porous and interface-fused films show a high on/off ratio of more than 104 and an external quantum efficiency value of 658 % under 9 V bias and 520 nm light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although a number of studies have reported the role of an increased left atrial ( LA) size on stroke, limited data are collected about the relationship between LA enlargement and recurrent ischemic stroke in the Chinese population. Our aim was to assess the association of LA size with the risk of stroke recurrence, particularly with recurrent cardioembolic or cryptogenic stroke in ischemic stroke patients. Methods The study recruited 313 consecutive patients with acute first-ever ischemic stroke. Echocardiographic LA diameter was measured and indexed by height and body surface area separately. The endpoint was recurrent ischemic stroke. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the association of LA size with total recurrent ischemic stroke and recurrent cardioembolic or cryptogenic stroke while adjusting for baseline demographics characteristics, clinical factors, echocardiographic left ventricular ejection fraction, and medication. Results Over a median follow-up period of 1.63 years, 47 recurrent ischemic strokes (21 were cardioembolic or cryptogenic) occurred. In a multivariate model adjusted for potential confounders, compared with the bottom tertiles of LA diameter indexed to height ( LA diameter/H), the top tertile of LA diameter/H was significantly associated with the total recurrent ischemic stroke (adjusted HR 3.610, 95% CI 1.870-6.967, p < .001) and the composite of recurrent cardioembolic or cryptogenic stroke (adjusted HR 5.673, 95% CI 1.780-18.084, p = .003). Results were similar when LA diameter indexed to body surface area ( LA diameter/ BSA) was involved in the analysis. Conclusion LA size is an independent predictor of total recurrent ischemic stroke and the composite of recurrent cardioembolic or cryptogenic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]