Search

We selectively improved the viewing angle characteristics and light extraction efficiency of blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) by tailoring a nanofiber-shaped Si 3 N 4 layer, which was used as an internal scattering layer. The diameter of the polymer nanofibers changed according to the mass ratio of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in the polymer solution for electrospinning. The Si 3 N 4 nanofiber (SNF) structure was fabricated by etching an Si 3 N 4 film using the PAN/PMMA nanofiber as a mask, making it easier to adjust parameters, such as the diameter, open ratio, and height, even though the SNF structure was randomly shaped. The SNF structures exhibited lower transmittance and higher haze with increasing diameter, showing little correlation with their height. However, all the structures demonstrated a total transmittance of over 80%. Finally, by applying the SNF structures to the blue TADF OLEDs, the external quantum efficiency was increased by 15.6%. In addition, the current and power efficiencies were enhanced by 23.0% and 25.6%, respectively. The internal light-extracting SNF structure also exhibited a synergistic effect with the external light-extracting structure. Furthermore, when the viewing angle changed from 0° to 60°, the peak wavelength and CIE coordinate shift decreased from 20 to 6 nm and from 0.0561 to 0.0243, respectively. These trends were explained by the application of Snell's law to the light path and were ultimately validated through finite-difference time-domain simulations.

Luminous efficiency is a pivotal factor for assessing the performance of optoelectronic devices, wherein light loss caused by diverse factors is harvested and converted into the radiative mode. In this study, we demonstrate a nanoscale vacuum photonic crystal layer (nVPCL) for light extraction enhancement. A corrugated semi-transparent electrode incorporating a periodic hollow-structure array was designed through a simulation that utilizes finite-difference time-domain computational analysis. The corrugated profile, stemming from the periodic hollow structure, was fabricated using laser interference lithography, which allows the precise engineering of various geometrical parameters by controlling the process conditions. The semi-transparent electrode consisted of a 15 nm thick Ag film, which acted as the exit mirror and induced microcavity resonance. When applied to a conventional green organic light-emitting diode (OLED) structure, the optimized nVPCL-integrated device demonstrated a 21.5% enhancement in external quantum efficiency compared to the reference device. Further, the full width at half maximum exhibited a 27.5% reduction compared to that of the reference device, demonstrating improved color purity. This study presents a novel approach by applying a hybrid thin film electrode design to optoelectronic devices to enhance optical efficiency and color purity.

Background: Ferroptosis is an emerging type of regulated cell death and associated with antitumoral therapy, while some microRNAs have been shown to regulate the tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Meanwhile, polyphyllin I (PPI) has exhibited antitumoral effects by promoting cancer cell apoptosis and ferroptosis. However, it is unclear whether PPI induces cancer cell ferroptosis by regulating microRNAs. Methods: We used two gastric cancer cell lines (AGS and MKN-45) to set up a tumor model of the nude mice, which were then treated daily with PPI to measure the cancer growth in vitro and in vivo . Ferroptosis was measured using immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometric analysis according to levels of intracellular ROS, lipid ROS and ferrous ions. Moreover, NRF2 expression was measured by Western blotting. In some experiments, the mimics or inhibitors of miR-124-3p were used to further confirm its involvement in PPI-induced cancer cell ferroptosis. Results: Here we found that miR-124-3p mediated cancer ferroptosis and tumor repression induced by PPI since PPI increased miR-124-3p expression in gastric cancer cells and promoted their ferroptosis, whereas inhibition of miR-124-3p mostly abolished the effects of PPI on tumor growth, ferroptosis and NRF2 expression. Moreover, miR-124-3p mimics promoted cancer cell ferroptosis by downregulating NRF2 through directly targeting 3'-UTR region of NRF2, confirming a role for miR-124-3p in regulating PPI-induced ferroptosis. Conclusion: PPI exerts its antitumoral effects on the gastric cancer by promoting cell ferroptosis via regulating miR-124-3p. Our findings have clinical implications for cancer chemotherapy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The authors declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2023 Zheng, Bi, Wei, Wang, Zhang, Liang, Wu and Dai.)

This study aimed to investigate the expression of miR-221 and miR-145 in papillary thyroid carcinoma, and the effect of miR-221 and miR-145 on the invasion ability of thyroid cancer cells and its mechanism. For this purpose, 120 patients with thyroid nodules were divided into the observation group (PTC) of 43 cases and the control group (benign nodules) of 42 cases according to postoperative pathological diagnosis. Total RNA was extracted from serum samples of all patients, and the expression levels of miRNA-145 and miR-221 were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. The expression of two kinds of miRNAs in the groups was compared, and their correlation was analyzed. The results showed that the expression of miRNA-145 in thyroid cancer tissues was lower than that in paired adjacent normal tissues (P < 0.001). The expression of miRNA-221 in thyroid cancer tissues was higher than that in paired adjacent normal tissues (P < 0.001). The proliferation and migration ability of miRNA-145 cells were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). The expression of miRNA-221 was up-regulated, and the proliferation and migration ability of cells was significantly enhanced (P < 0.05). High expression of miRNA-145 can inhibit cell proliferation and migration and promote apoptosis, while high expression of miRNA-221 will promote cell proliferation and migration and enhance the invasion ability of cancer cells. In general, the expression of miRNA-22l in serum of PTC patients is significantly up-regulated, while the expression level of miR-145 is down-regulated, which can be used as effective indicators to judge the biological activity of the tumor, and the combined detection of the two can significantly enhance the diagnostic value of PTC. Upregulation of miR-145 inhibits PTC cell proliferation; arrests cell cycle and promotes apoptosis miR-145 may play an important role as a tumor suppressor gene.

Phylogenetic analysis was performed on a cellulose-producing strain, designated WE7 T , isolated from contaminated coconut milk. The analysis utilized nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequences, as well as concatenated partial sequences of the housekeeping genes dnaK, groEL and rpoB, and allowed identification of the strain as belonging to the genus Komagataeibacter. DNA-DNA correlation or average nucleotide identity analysis was performed between WE7 T and its closest phylogenetic neighbours, and the resulting values were below the species level (<70 % and <95 %), suggesting that the strain represents a novel species in genus Komagataeibacter. Strain WE7 T was coupled with Komagataeibacter species more tightly than with Gluconacetobacter species in a 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogenetic tree. Strain WE7 T can be differentiated from closely related Komagataeibacter and Gluconacetobacter entanii species by the ability to grow on the carbon sources d-mannitol, sodium d-gluconate and glycerol, the ability to form acid by d-fructose, sucrose, d-mannitol, d-galactose and ethanol, and the ability to grow without acetic acid. The major fatty acid of WE7 T is C18 : 1ω9c (52.3 %). The DNA G+C content of WE7 T is 63.2 mol%. The name Komagataeibacter cocois sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain WE7 T (=CGMCC 1.15338 T =JCM 31140 T ).

An approximately equatorial three-coordinated dysprosium(iii) complex DyL2[N(SiMe3)2] (L = bis(2-(2,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)ethyl)amine) with an additional neutral auxiliary pyrrole ligand was synthesised and structurally characterized. The magnetic property measurement shows that it is an equatorial charge distributed field-induced single-molecule magnet. Ab initio calculations reveal that the neutral pyrrole ligand plays an important role in stabilizing the ground doublet and thus enhancing the magnetic anisotropy.

The spatiotemporal distribution of source areas for the early immigration of the white-backed planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (Horvάth), at Xiushan in the middle reach of Yangtze River of China, was analyzed with HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) and ArcGIS 10.0. The analysis was based on light trap data collected during April-July in 2000-2012. The synoptic meteorology backgrounds during the immigration periods were analyzed by GrADS (Grid Analysis and Display System). The light trap catches of S. furcifera varied monthly and annually. S. furcifera started immigration in Xiushan in early April to early May, whereas the main immigration period was in July. The distribution of the source areas varied monthly, and the core was moved from the south to the north gradually. The main source areas of S. furcifera in May were in southwestern Guangxi and northern Vietnam. The source areas of S. furcifera in June were located in southwestern Guangxi and western Hunan. Additionally, some of the pests were from southeastern Yunnan. The source areas in July were in northwestern Guangxi, southwestern Guizhou, eastern Yunnan, and the transitional parts of Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan. The sum frequencies of southwest and south winds on the 850 hPa isobaric surface of Xiushan of May-July in heavy occurrence years were more than the light occurrence years. The key meteorological factors were suggested to be vertical perturbation, precipitation, and wind shear during S. furcifera immigration periods., (© The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Rickettsia felis has been reported to be a cause of fever in sub-Saharan Africa, but this association has been poorly evaluated in Gabon. We assessed the prevalence of this bacterium among children <15 years of age in 4 areas of Gabon; the locations were in urban, semiurban, and rural areas. DNA samples from 410 febrile children and 60 afebrile children were analyzed by quantitative PCR. Overall, the prevalence of R. felis among febrile and afebrile children was 10.2% (42/410 children) and 3.3% (2/60 children), respectively. Prevalence differed among febrile children living in areas that are urban (Franceville, 1.3% [1/77]), semiurban (Koulamoutou, 2.1% [3/141]), and rural (Lastourville, 11.2% [15/134]; Fougamou, 39.7% [23/58]). Furthermore, in a rural area (Fougamou), R. felis was significantly more prevalent in febrile (39.7% [23/58]) than afebrile children (5.0% [1/20]). Additional studies are needed to better understand the pathogenic role of R. felis in this part of the world.

The objective of the study was to assess the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic colorectal surgery by comparing open operation within fast track (FT) programs. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase and Chinese Biological Medicine Database were searched to identify all available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing laparoscopic with open colorectal resection within FT programs. A total of seven RCTs were finally included, enrolling 714 patients with colorectal cancer: 373 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery and FT programs (laparoscopic/FT group) and 341 patients received open operation and FT programs (open/FT group). Postoperative hospital stay (weighted mean difference (WMD): 0.66; 95% CI: 0.27 - 1.04; P < 0.05), total hospital stay (WMD: 1.46; 95% CI: 0.40 - 2.51; P < 0.05) and overall complications (RR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.12 - 1.54; P < 0.05) were significantly lower in laparoscopic/FT group than in open/FT group. However, no statistically significant differences on mortality (risk ratio (RR): 2.26; 95% CI: 0.62 - 8.22; P = 0.21), overall surgical complications (RR: 1.19; 95% CI: 0.94 - 1.51; P = 0.15) and readmission rates (RR: 1.33; 95% CI: 0.79 - 2.22; P = 0.28) were found between both groups. The laparoscopic colorectal surgery combined with FT programs shows high-level evidence on shortening postoperative and total hospital stay, reducing overall complications without compromising patients' safety.

To determine whether treatment with omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FA) provides benefits to patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database were searched. Data analysis was performed using Revman 5.2 software. A total of eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Overall, ω-3 FA treatment resulted in a significantly reduced risk of mortality (RR 0.35; 95% CI 0.16 to 0.75, p < 0.05), infectious complications (RR 0.54; 95% CI 0.34 to 0.85, p < 0.05) and length of hospital stay (MD -6.50; 95% CI -9.54 to -3.46, p < 0.05), but not length of ICU stay (MD -1.98; 95% CI -6.92 to 2.96, p > 0.05). In subgroup analysis, only patients who received ω-3 FA parenterally had some statistically significant benefits in terms of mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16 to 0.86, p < 0.05), infectious complications (RR 0.5; 95% CI 0.28 to 0.9, p < 0.05) and length of hospital stay (mean difference (MD) -8.13; 95% CI -10.39 to -5.87, p < 0.001). The administration of ω-3 FA may be beneficial for decreasing mortality, infectious complications, and length of hospital stay in AP, especially when used parenterally. Large and rigorously designed RCTs are required to elucidate the efficacy of parenteral or enteral ω-3 FA treatment in AP.

Aims: The influence of bacterial species/strains in agitated culture was investigated on the morphology and structure characteristics of bacterial cellulose., Methods and Results: Komagataeibacter nataicola Y19 and Gluconacetobacter entanii ACCC10215 were inoculated in Hestrin-Schramm (HS) medium and subjected to agitated cultivation. Different kinds of BCs were obtained including flocky asterisk-like BC by G. entanii ACCC10215 and solid sphere-like BC by K. nataicola Y19. The SEM results showed that the asterisk-like BC had larger pores than the solid sphere-like BC. The FT-IR and X-ray diffraction results showed the asterisk-like BC had lower crystallinity (81·43%), higher cellulose Iα mass fraction (79·74%) and smaller crystallite size., Conclusions: The different species/strains can influence the morphology and structure characteristics of BC in agitated culture., Significance and Impact of the Study: We examined the influence of different species/strains on the morphology, macro- and microstructure of BCs produced in agitated culture for the first time, which suggest that different BCs with potential applications could be obtained by choosing different species or strains and fermentation method., (© 2014 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

In the title compound, C(11)H(9)N(3)O, the quinazoline unit is almost planar, with a mean deviation of 0.006 (1) Å from the least-squares plane defined by the ten constituent atoms. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds.

Rice appearance quality, including traits specifying grain dimension and endosperm chalkiness, represents a major problem in many rice-producing areas of the world. In this study, the genetic basis of six appearance quality traits of milled rice was dissected into quantitative trait loci (QTL) main effects, and the stability of these QTLs was assessed in a population of 66 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) across eight environments. The CSSLs showed transgressive segregation for many of the traits, and significant correlations were detected among most of the traits. Twenty-two QTLs were identified on eight chromosomes, and numerous QTLs affecting related traits were mapped in the same regions, probably reflecting pleiotropic effects. Nine QTLs, namely qGL-1,qGL-3, qGW-5,qLWR-3, qLWR-5,qPGWC-8, qPGWC-9, qACE-8, and qDEC-8, were consistently detected across the eight environments. The additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis showed that genotype (G) x environment (E) interaction was significant for all six traits, with the first three iPCA terms accounting for over 80% of the G x E variance. Both D(I) values and the iPCA1-iPCA2 biplots showed that the CSSLs harboring the nine QTL alleles were more stable than those carrying any of the additional 13 QTL alleles, thereby confirming their environmental stability and pointing to their appropriateness as targets for marker-assisted selection for high-quality rice varieties.