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White-light emissive organic-inorganic hybrid metal halides (MHs) have shown promising potential applications in solid-state lighting. As one-dimensional (1D) MHs for white-light emission remain rare and the key role of halogen regulation in 1D hybrid MHs for broadband emission (BE) has not been well established yet, herein, we report a family of 1D hybrid MHs TMGPbX

This review summarizes and discusses the HPSC engineering and optimization mechanism, and provides systematic knowledge and prospects of their development in the photovoltaic field.

Rural revitalization, as a major strategy with the goal of realizing the overall development of strong agriculture industries, beautiful rural areas, and rich farmers, is an effective way of alleviating the loss of talent, land, capital, and other elements in rural areas and a possible cure for “rural diseases”. However, “rural diseases” faced by villages are very different, and thus exploring suitable strategies for rural revitalization is beneficial to the implementation of rural revitalization strategies and the promotion of urban–rural integration. Based on location theory, this paper constructs a point–axis–domain three-dimensional spatial location theory model that integrates market location, traffic location, and natural location and combines the coupling coordination model to comprehensively study the vitality and development directions of Qingdao’s rural areas. Results found that Qingdao’s high-level and medium–high-level coupling coordination areas are the main types of coupling coordination, accounting for 45.19% and 47.48%, respectively. Based on the development status of Qingdao, this study explores development directions for rural revitalization poles as well as high-level, medium–high-level, and medium-level coupling coordination areas and suggests the following: rural revitalization poles should play a demonstration role in rural revitalization in terms of industrial development, rural civilization, social governance, public service construction, etc.; high-level coupling coordination areas should focus on building modern hi-tech agriculture and rural marine tourism industries; medium–high-level coupling coordination areas should strengthen the building of satellite towns and promote industrial transformation and upgrading; medium-level coupling coordination areas should actively develop ecological environment conservation models and establish a characteristic mountainous eco-tourism industry. Thus, the findings provide important scientific reference for the implementation of rural revitalization.

Users' search tasks have become increasingly complicated, requiring multiple queries and interactions with the results. Recent studies have demonstrated that modeling the historical user behaviors in a session can help understand the current search intent. Existing context-aware ranking models primarily encode the current session sequence (from the first behavior to the current query) and compute the ranking score using the high-level representations. However, there is usually some noise in the current session sequence (useless behaviors for inferring the search intent) that may affect the quality of the encoded representations. To help the encoding of the current user behavior sequence, we propose to use a decoder and the information of future sequences and a supplemental query. Specifically, we design three generative tasks that can help the encoder to infer the actual search intent: (1) predicting future queries, (2) predicting future clicked documents, and (3) predicting a supplemental query. We jointly learn the ranking task with these generative tasks using an encoder-decoder structured approach. Extensive experiments on two public search logs demonstrate that our model outperforms all existing baselines, and the designed generative tasks can actually help the ranking task. Besides, additional experiments also show that our approach can be easily applied to various Transformer-based encoder-decoder models and improve their performance.

Background and Purpose: Whether imaging parameters would independently predict stroke recurrence in low-risk minor ischemic stroke (MIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) according to traditional score system (such as ABCD 2 score, which was termed on the basis of the initials of the five factors: age, blood pressure, clinical features, duration, diabetes) remains unclear. We sought to evaluate the association between imaging parameters and 1-year stroke recurrence in patients with TIA or MIS in different risk stratum stratified by ABCD 2 score. Methods: We included patients with TIA and MIS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≤3) with complete baseline vessel and brain imaging data from the Third China National Stroke Registry III. Patients were categorized into different risk groups based on ABCD 2 score (low risk, 0–3; moderate risk, 4–5; and high risk, 6–7). The primary outcome was stroke recurrence within 1 year. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to assess whether imaging parameters (large artery stenosis, infarction number) were independently associated with stroke recurrence. Results: Of the 7140 patients included, 584 patients experienced stroke recurrence within 1 year. According to the ABCD 2 score, large artery stenosis was associated with higher stroke recurrence in both low-risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.746 [95% CI, 1.200–2.540]) and moderate-risk group (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.326 [95% CI, 1.042–1.687]) but not in the high-risk group ( P >0.05). Patients with multiple acute infarctions or single acute infarction had a higher risk of recurrent stroke than those with no infarction in both low- and moderate-risk groups, but not in the high-risk group. Conclusions: Large artery stenosis and infarction number were independent predictors of 1-year stroke recurrence in low-moderate risk but not in high-risk patients with TIA or MIS stratified by ABCD 2 score. This finding emphasizes the importance of early brain and vascular imaging evaluation for risk stratification in patients with TIA or MIS.

The fully inorganic perovskite lead cesium bromide single crystal (CsPbBr3 SC) is considered as an excellent candidate semiconductor for photodetectors because of its superior humidity resistance, thermal stability, and light stability compared with organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites as well as its photoelectric properties such as large light absorption coefficient and ultralong carrier migration distance. In this Letter, we utilize the inverse temperature solubility of CsPbBr3 in ternary solvents to grow large-sized CsPbBr3 SCs. By the use of the (101) plane, CsPbBr3 SC-based photodetectors are fabricated, which exhibit excellent polarized light response characteristics. The photocurrent relies on the polarization angle in a sinusoidal fashion and shows strong anisotropic optoelectronic properties. The photodetection performance perpendicular to the y axis is significantly higher than that parallel to the y axis, and the dichroic ratio under 405 nm illumination at a bias voltage of 1 V reaches 2.65. The experimental results are consistent with the results of first-principles calculations.

Fully inorganic perovskite materials of the Cs–Pb–Br system have been developing rapidly because of their overwhelming stabilities and splendid optoelectronic performance. However, there are few investigations on the parallel system of Cs–Pb–Cl, let alone the two-dimensional (2D) CsPb2Cl5. To fill in the gaps about CsPb2Cl5, we successfully grew large-scale CsPb2Cl5 single crystals (SCs) and partially substituted by Br. The quintessential 2D crystal structure determines the morphology character of slices, with a tetragonal system (I4/mcm). The ledge-connected [Cs–Cl]10 polyhedrons and face-connected [Pb–Cl]8 polyhedrons endow them with asymmetry and further bring crystal lattice distortions, which is beneficial for self-trapped exciton (STE) emission. Additionally, the band gap of the transparent CsPb2Cl5 SC is confirmed to be ∼4.01 eV. The photoluminescence (PL) of CsPb2Cl5 SC is dependent on the excitation energies. Exciton emission centered at 2.32 eV is predominant under higher energy excitation (>3.85 eV), whereas STE emission centered at 1.8 eV with a broad band (FWHM > 120 nm) is the unique emission when the excitation energy is lower than 3.85 eV. In addition, appropriate replacement of Cl with Br can bring larger lattice distortion and facilitate STE emission.

Background The accumulation of neurotoxic amyloid-beta (Aβ) in the brain is a characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD), at the same time, it is possible alterations of liver function could affect brain Aβ levels through changes in blood Aβ concentration. Over the last decade, a number of reports have shown that P-glycoprotein (encoded by ABC1B1) actively mediates the efflux transport of Aβ peptides. However, the mechanism by which Aβ peptides enter the cells is not clear. In the preliminary study, we found that the protein expression of organic anion transporting Polypeptide 1a4 (OATP1B1) in the liver tissue of mice with AD was significantly higher than that in the normal mice. In contrast, the protein expression of Oatp1a4 in the brain significantly decreased in mice with AD. OATP1B1, an important drug transporter might be related to the pathophysiology of AD. Results In this study, we established an OATP1B1-GFP-HEK293T cell model to confirm the OATP1B1 mediated transport of Aβ1-42. Compared to the control group of GFP-HEK293Tcells, the uptake of Aβ1-42 protein in the OATP1B1-GFP-HEK293T group increased significantly with the increase in concentration of Aβ1-42, and also increased significantly with an increase in the duration of incubation. Similar results were observed in the flow cytometry experiment, and the uptake of Aβ1-42in HEK293T-OATP1B1 cells was almost twice that in the control group. These results indicate that OATPs may act as an important “carrier” for the transport of Aβ1-42 from the blood to the tissues, including liver and brain. Conclusions This is a novel and interesting finding and OATP1B1 can be investigated as a new treatment target for AD.

In order to investigate the genetic causes of hearing loss in a Chinese proband (in Family A) with enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) and to investigate the genotype of two Chinese probands with SLC26A4 singe-allelic mutation and normal hearing (in Families B and C, respectively), the three probands and their parents were clinically and genetically evaluated. Twenty exons and flanking splice sites of the SLC26A4 gene were screened for pathogenic mutations via amplification with PCR and bidirectional sequencing. As controls, a group of 400 healthy newborns from the same ethnic background underwent SLC26A4 gene screening using the same method. The three probands all harbored two mutations in the SLC26A4 gene in the form of compound heterozygosity. The genotypes of mutations in Families A, B, and C are c.1211C>A/c.919-2A>G, c.1729G>A/c.919-2A>G, and c.1286C>A/c.919-2A>G, respectively. The missense mutations c.1211C>A (p.T430Q) in exon 10 and c.1729G>A (p.V577I) in exon 16 are both reported for the first time and were absent in 400 healthy newborns. c.1211C>A has Glutamine (Gln) at amino acid 430 instead of Threonine (Thr), and c.1729G>A has Isoleucine (Ile) at amino acid 577 instead of Valine (Val). c.1286C>A, a mutation previously reported in DVD and HGMD, was associated with Mondini deformity, but a proband with the c.1286C>A mutation in this study was normal. This study has demonstrated that the novel missense mutation c.1211C>A in compound heterozygosity with c.919-2A>G in the SLC26A4 gene is likely to be the cause of deafness in Family A. A novel variant, c.1729G>A, was identified and is likely benign. The pathogenicity of the c.1286C>A mutation warrants more in-depth study. These findings will broaden the spectrum of known SLC26A4 mutations in the Chinese population, providing more information for genetic counseling and diagnosis of hearing loss with EVA.

The current study investigated how the FOXI1 and KCNJ10 genes were affected in infants with a single-allele mutation in the SLC26A4 gene, and it determined the audiological phenotypes of infants with double heterozygous mutations (DHMs) in the three genes. Subjects were 562 infants with a single-allele SLC26A4 mutation detected during neonatal deafness genetic screening; the infants were seen as outpatients by Otology at Beijing Tongren Hospital. All subjects underwent SLC26A4 sequencing. Twenty infants had a second-allele variant while the remaining 542 had an SLC26A4 single-allele mutation. Infants also underwent FOXI1 and KCNJ10 sequencing. All patients with double heterozygous mutations in the aforementioned genes underwent an audiological evaluation and a limited imaging study; variants and audiological phenotypes were analyzed. Of 562 patients, 20 had SLC26A4 bi-allelic mutations; 8 carried single mutations in both SLC26A4 and KCNJ10. No pathogenic mutations in the FOXI1 gene were found. Four missense mutations in KCNJ10 were detected, including c.812G>A, c.800A>G, c.53G>A, and c.1042C>T. Eight individuals with a DHMs all passed universal newborn hearing screening, and all were found to have normal hearing. These data suggest that individuals with an SLC26A4 single-allele mutation, combined with FOXI1 or KCNJ10 gene mutations, do not suffer hearing loss during infancy, though this finding is worthy of further follow-up and in-depth discussion.

The existence of the organic component (MA) in MAPbBr3 guarantees its cubic crystal lattice stabilities to satisfy the tolerance factor but increases the chemical instability risk when encountering moisture, oxidation, and heat. Mixed cations, particularly when using cesium cation (Cs+), prove to be an effective way of improving both stability and optoelectronic performances of hybrid perovskite films applied in solar cells. However, the intrinsic effect of Cs+ on the crystal structure, lattice defects, and optoelectronic properties of MAPbBr3 is still unclear till now because grain boundary numbers and interface defect densities in films increase complexity; so, it is not easy to explore the intrinsic nature of how Cs+ affects the optoelectronic properties of MAPbBr3. Single crystals (SCs) of MAPbBr3 provide an ideal medium to investigate the influence of Cs+ on the crystal structure and optoelectronic performances. Herein, we grew a series of MA1–xCsxPbBr3 SCs. This reveals that Cs+ inhibits the growth ...

CH3NH3PbBr3 (MAPbBr3), one of the classical members in the organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite family that presents excellent advantages in high photon absorption efficiency and long carrier transp...

As one type of organic–inorganic hybrid lead halide perovskites, MAPbX3 has attracted immense interests in applications of optoelectronic devices because of its remarkable properties. However, the ...

Due to their excellent luminescent properties such as high stability, narrow band emission, and strong luminescence, hybrid organic–inorganic lead perovskites have great potential for application in optoelectronic devices. Compared to their conventional 3D counterparts, 2D perovskites exhibit enhanced moisture stability. Moreover, with the enhancement of exciton binding energy and limitation of charge carriers, 2D layered perovskites are considered ideal candidate materials for efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs). However, hybrid organic–inorganic lead perovskites contain highly toxic Pb, which is considered as a major environmental pollutant and health hazard. Therefore, the further larger-scale applications are limited. Thus, exploiting the impressive properties and practical applications of 2D layered structure Pb-free hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites in the LED field is necessary. In the present work, a centimeter-size square 2D layered Pb-free (CH3NH3)2MnCl4 single crystal was grown successfully with diverse crystal morphologies from two different solutions. This material could be excited by light in different wavelength bands. The main peak in its emission spectrum is located at 608 nm and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) is 72 nm. Furthermore, we prepared an LED using the (CH3NH3)2MnCl4 single crystal, which exhibited good luminescence properties, emitting obvious red light with a QE of 2.4% upon excitation at 417 nm and used for white light illumination.

Objectives To identify second-allele variant in infants with a known single-allele mutation of the SLC26A4 gene and to determine the frequency of their occurrence; and to investigate the clinical audiological characteristics of infants with bi-allelic mutations in SLC26A4. Methods The study subjects were 371 patients with a single-allele SLC26A4 mutation detected by neonatal deafness gene screening (4 genes and 9 pathogenic variants) who were treated at the otology outpatient department of Beijing Tongren Hospital. The exonic and flanking splice site regions of the SLC26A4 gene were sequenced for all patients. All patients with bi-allelic SLC26A4 mutations underwent audiological evaluation, and some also underwent temporal bone computed tomography and/or inner ear magnetic resonance imaging. Results Of the 371 patients, 314 (84.64%) had an c.919-2A > G heterozygous mutation and 57 (15.36%) had a c.2168A > G (p.H723R) heterozygous mutation. 13 patients (3.50%) had a second-allele variant, including 11 (2.96%) with pathogenic mutations and 1 (0.27%) with a likely benign variant. Of the 13 patients with bi-allelic mutations, 11 had hearing loss and 2 had normal hearing, the latter of whom had c.919-2A > G/c.1766A > G and c.919-2A > G/c.757A > G compound heterozygous mutations, respectively. Four of the 13 patients with bi-allelic mutations had passed the universal newborn hearing screening, including 2 cases (15.38%) with hearing loss. The most prevalent degree of hearing loss was profound (40.91%), followed by severe (36.36%). The most prevalent audiometric configuration was sloping hearing loss (50.00%), followed by flat-type hearing loss (40.91%). Conclusions This is the first report in China of the frequency of occurrence of second-allele variant in infants with a known single-allele mutation of the SLC26A4 gene; the frequency was 3.50% for any type of variant and 2.96% for pathogenic mutations. A novel variant, c.1766A > G (p.Q589R), which is likely benign, was identified. The pathogenicity of c.757A > G (p.I253V) mutation deserves more in-depth research. For infants with bi-allelic SLC26A4 mutations, the degree of hearing loss was mainly severe-to-profound and the audiometric configuration was mainly sloping.

There has been great interest in the use of cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3), which is one of the most important members of the all-inorganic perovskite family, due to its superior optoelectronic performance and higher stability. Recently, it has been demonstrated that it is advantageous to use CsPbBr3 microrods and nanowires in photodetectors because of their higher crystallinity, low amount of defects, and easy control of carrier transport along a specific direction as compared to their counterparts of single crystals and thin films. However, there is a shortage of adequate investigations that describe how to control the growth of CsPbBr3 microrods and nanowires so that they retain the optoelectronic performance of single CsPbBr3 microrods. Therefore, we are reporting how to control the growth of orientated dispersive super-long CsPbBr3 microrod single crystals (CsPbBr3 MSCs) via a simple anti-solvent method. The crucial factor in controlling the growth of dispersive super-long CsPbBr3 MSCs is the regulation of the rapid nucleation rate and slowing of the growth rate via controlling the diffusion velocity of anti-solvent methanol. We also reveal the growth mechanism of CsPbBr3 MSCs as layer-by-layer growth that originates from the 2D nucleus. The CsPbBr3 MSCs are revealed grew in the direction of [010], with the (101) facet exposed. Moreover, photodetectors based on one CsPbBr3 MSC were fabricated, and the detectivity (D) and the on/off ratio were as high as 3.67 × 1012 Jones and 988, respectively, suggesting a very strong optoelectronic response as photodetectors. The mechanism that the Cs ions and Cs vacancies use to move to negative and positive electrodes along the channels constructed by [PbBr6]4− in the [010] direction of the CsPbBr3 MSC (101) facet was revealed, after activation by the applied electrical field, which is beneficial to enhance the optoelectronic response but does not reduce the device stability.

The fully inorganic perovskite lead cesium bromide single crystal (CsPbBr

Congenital ear malformations include auricular malformation, external ear canal atresia, middle ear malformation and inner ear malformation.

In order to investigate the genetic causes of hearing loss in a Chinese proband with nonsyndromic hearing loss and enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA), we conducted clinical and genetic evaluations in a deaf proband and her parents with normal hearing. 20 exons and flanking splice sites of the SLC26A4 gene were screened for pathogenic mutations by PCR amplification and bidirectional sequencing. As a control, a group of 400 healthy newborns from the same ethnic background were subjected to SLC26A4 gene screening using the same method. The proband harbored two mutations in the SLC26A4 gene in the form of compound heterozygosity. She was found to be heterozygous for a novel mutation c.574delC (p.Leu192Ter) in exon 5 and for the known mutation c.919-2A>G(c.IVS7-2A>G). Her mother was a heterozygous carrier of the c.919-2A>G mutation, and her father was a heterozygous carrier of the c.574delC and therefore co-segregated with the genetic disease. The c.574delC mutation was absent in 400 healthy newborns. The frameshift mutation causes the leucine (Leu) at amino acid position 192 to become a termination codon, leading to termination of protein sequence coding. This study demonstrates that the novel frameshift mutation c.574delC (p.Leu192Ter) in compound heterozygosity with c.919-2A>G in the SLC26A4 gene is the main cause of deafness in a family. Our study will expand the spectrum of known SLC26A4 mutations in the Chinese population, providing more information on genetic counseling, and diagnosis in hearing loss with EVA.

Organic-inorganic hybrid methylammonium lead iodide perovskite (MAPbI3) has attracted extensive attention in a series of optoelectronic devices. The photoelectric properties of the MAPbI3 single crystal have been revealed to be much better than those of it polycrystalline counterparts. However, its poor moisture and heat resistance severely limited further development. The introduction of Cs+ into polycrystalline films has shown to be an effective way to enhance its moisture resistance through a passivation effect. However, the entrance abilities of Cs+ into a MAPbI3 crystal lattice and the influence on photoelectric properties of a single crystal were not clear until now. Therefore, we attempted to grow large MA1- xCs xPbI3 single crystals to introduce Cs+ into the crystal lattice. The existence of Cs+ brought lattice shrinkage and enhanced stability of the MAPbI3 single crystal. A moderate quantity of Cs+ (2%) proved to heighten the photoelectric properties, whereas an excess quantity of Cs+ (5%) brought more shallow defects, which ultimately deteriorated the photoelectric properties.

The current study retrospectively investigated variations in audiological phenotypes in children with GJB2 gene mutations. Subjects were 128 infants and young children who were seen as outpatients by Otology at Beijing Tongren Hospital from 2012 to 2018. Of the 128 subjects, 99 had biallelic truncating (T/T) mutations and 29 had truncating/nontruncating (T/NT) mutations. Genotypes, results of universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS), and the degree and symmetry of hearing loss were examined in the two groups. Twenty-two subjects (20.37%, 22/128) passed UNHS, including 13 children with T/T mutations and 9 with T/NT mutations. Of the 128 subjects, 22 had normal hearing, 2 had unilateral hearing loss, and 115 had bilateral hearing loss. Severe-to-profound hearing loss was the most prevalent phenotype in children with T/T mutations (73.23%), while normal hearing was prevalent in children with T/NT mutations (41.38%). Symmetrical hearing loss was the main phenotype in both groups, and the number of subjects with symmetrical hearing loss did not differ significantly between the two groups. Therefore, children with GJB2 gene mutations have phenotypic variability in terms of their results of UNHS and their degree and symmetry of hearing loss. Subjects with T/NT mutations of the GJB2 gene were more likely to pass UNHS and had milder hearing loss compared to those with T/T mutations. Symmetrical hearing loss was the main phenotype in the two groups, but 36.53% of children had bilateral asymmetric hearing loss. Parents of all subjects with sensorineural hearing loss were informed that their children may have a GJB2 mutation.

A multipass thick welded specimen restrained by three saddle-shape plates welded to the bottom surface was prepared and treated using the post-weld ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT). The stresses in the specimen were measured and analysed. Results show that the as-welded stresses on the top surface of the restrained specimen do not drop quickly beyond the weld zone as compared with the typical welding stress distributions in thick unrestrained specimens. The UIT induces compressive stresses with a depth up to 2–4 mm and it has little effect on the as-welded stresses outside of the UIT-treated region. The welding of restraining plates causes a significant increase of the longitudinal stress within the local welding region.

Organic-inorganic hybrid methylammonium lead iodide perovskite (MAPbI3) is considered as new generation optoelectronic material. MAPbI3 single crystal is proved more excellent than its polycrystalline film and nano state counterparts, though the discrepancy is still pending. Referring MAPbI3 single crystal applications, physical anisotropy stands in its breach. However, it has not been drawn enough attentions till now. In this study, taking advantages of the natural exposed (100) and (112) facets of MAPbI3 single crystal grown from γ-butyrolactone (GBL) solution, the anisotropic optoelectronic performances based on of these two lattice planes were systematically explored through planar metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) devices. An order enhanced photocurrents, 135% increased responsivity, and 128% heightened EQE on (112) plane device than those on (100) plane device under 5 V bias with irradiation power of 1 mW, remarkably demonstrated that (112) plane was more excellent in optoelectronic performances and light harvesting capability.

Hybrid perovskite MAPbCl3 is considered to be one of the most promising candidates applied in visible-blind UV-photo-detectors due to its outstanding optoelectronic properties. It is proved that the MAPbCl3 single crystal is more excellent than its polycrystalline counterpart because of its fewer defects and grain boundaries. When referring to a single crystal, the crystal orientation or crystal structure anisotropy is an inevitable topic, because structure anisotropy can affect or decide the optoelectronic properties of single crystals. In this study, both cubic and triangular prism MAPbCl3 single crystals with (100) and (110) crystallographic planes were successfully grown from mixed solutions. The crystal growth process, crystal structure and optical absorption were investigated. Moreover, by fabricating metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) photo-detectors using Au interdigital electrodes on both (100) and (110) planes, the optoelectronic anisotropy was explored by comparing photocurrents, responsivity, external quantum efficiency and detectivity. According to the crystal structure and calculated charge density, the optoelectronic anisotropy in the MAPbCl3 single crystal was revealed.

Hybrid organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites (HOIPs) have received significant attention because of their impressive performances in the fields of solar cells and photoelectric detection. In the past five years, great efforts have been made to improve the crystallinity, reduce grain boundaries, and enhance the stabilities of perovskite films. Compared with films, HOIP single crystals possess fewer grain boundaries and stronger optoelectronic properties and can be applied in optoelectronic devices. As the most popular HOIP member, single crystals of MAPbX3 (X = Br, Cl) are deemed as important candidates for ultraviolet-visible photodetectors, in which the crystal structure anisotropy largely affects the detection performance. In this study, high-quality cubic single crystals of MAPbBr3 and MAPbCl3 were successfully grown from solutions. Taking advantages of their smooth (100) facets, planar metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors were fabricated using Au interdigitated electrodes. The optoelectronic performances under nonpolarized and linearly polarized lights were explored. The optoelectronic performances were dependent on linearly polarized lights. Interestingly, both responsivity and external quantum efficiency were greatly enhanced under the excitation with linearly polarized lights. Moreover, the polarization-related optical absorptions and the electron densities within the (100) plane could be used to interpret different optoelectronic performances of single crystals of MAPbX3 (X = Br, Cl) under various linearly polarized lights.

MAPbI3 is deemed as the most prominent member in hybrid perovskites family because of its extremely optoelectronic properties. However, some issues and puzzles are still in expectation of their answers, such as stabilities, hysteresis, ferroelectricity, and so on. To bridge the distinctions between MAPbI3 single crystal and thin films, large-size single crystals are demanded. On the contrary, crystal structure anisotropy-dependent optoelectronic properties is an inevitable topic. A series of large-size MAPbI3 single crystals with (220) facets exposed were successfully grown, using high concentration solutions and large-size seed crystals to match growth rates of (100) and (220) facets. The optoelectronic properties of photocurrents, responsivity, EQE, and detectivity clearly showed significant anisotropy of optoelectronic properties in MAPbI3 single crystal. According to ion migration theory, the anisotropy of optoelectronic properties was interpreted. We hope this result will be helpful to guide oriented...

Organic and inorganic hybrid perovskites have attracted significant attentions due to their impressive optoelectronic properties. MAPbBr3, one of the most popular members in MAPbX3 (MA = methyl ammonium and X = Cl, Br, I) family, is considered as new generation optoelectronic materials, especially in the field of solar cells. Compared to polycrystalline films, MAPbBr3 single crystal is deemed more ideal for optoelectronic device because of fewer grain boundaries. To realize a controlled crystal growth, a thorough understanding of its growth mechanism, especially the role of surface structures played in growth kinetics, is of paramount importance. In this paper, hillocks on (100) facet of MAPbBr3 crystal were observed using atomic force microscopy when grown from N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution. The results revealed that the growth of (100) facet was controlled by 2D nucleation at low concentration, which derived plenty of elementary steps whose height was about 0.59 nm, equivalent to one unit cell. Then the growth transferred to step flow model along [011] direction. Step flow ceased when encountering holes on the terraces. The optical morphologies validated that cubic plates were prone to growing along [011] directions, which were in a layer-by-layer model. Moreover, the temperature reverse solubility of MAPbBr3 in DMF solution was measured. In terms of the solubility and growth mechanism of MAPbBr3, a series of MAPbBr3 single crystals were successfully grown from thin cubic plates to thick and perfect cubes via temperature controlling rising method ultimately.

In order to investigate the genetic causes of hearing loss in a Chinese proband (in Family A) with enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) and to investigate the genotype of two Chinese probands with SLC26A4 singe-allelic mutation and normal hearing (in Families B and C, respectively), the three probands and their parents were clinically and genetically evaluated. Twenty exons and flanking splice sites of the SLC26A4 gene were screened for pathogenic mutations via amplification with PCR and bidirectional sequencing. As controls, a group of 400 healthy newborns from the same ethnic background underwent SLC26A4 gene screening using the same method. The three probands all harbored two mutations in the SLC26A4 gene in the form of compound heterozygosity. The genotypes of mutations in Families A, B, and C are c.1211CA/c.919-2AG, c.1729GA/c.919-2AG, and c.1286CA/c.919-2AG, respectively. The missense mutations c.1211CA (p.T430Q) in exon 10 and c.1729GA (p.V577I) in exon 16 are both reported for the first time and were absent in 400 healthy newborns. c.1211CA has Glutamine (Gln) at amino acid 430 instead of Threonine (Thr), and c.1729GA has Isoleucine (Ile) at amino acid 577 instead of Valine (Val). c.1286CA, a mutation previously reported in DVD and HGMD, was associated with Mondini deformity, but a proband with the c.1286CA mutation in this study was normal. This study has demonstrated that the novel missense mutation c.1211CA in compound heterozygosity with c.919-2AG in the SLC26A4 gene is likely to be the cause of deafness in Family A. A novel variant, c.1729GA, was identified and is likely benign. The pathogenicity of the c.1286CA mutation warrants more in-depth study. These findings will broaden the spectrum of known SLC26A4 mutations in the Chinese population, providing more information for genetic counseling and diagnosis of hearing loss with EVA.

The current study investigated how the FOXI1 and KCNJ10 genes were affected in infants with a single-allele mutation in the SLC26A4 gene, and it determined the audiological phenotypes of infants with double heterozygous mutations (DHMs) in the three genes. Subjects were 562 infants with a single-allele SLC26A4 mutation detected during neonatal deafness genetic screening; the infants were seen as outpatients by Otology at Beijing Tongren Hospital. All subjects underwent SLC26A4 sequencing. Twenty infants had a second-allele variant while the remaining 542 had an SLC26A4 single-allele mutation. Infants also underwent FOXI1 and KCNJ10 sequencing. All patients with double heterozygous mutations in the aforementioned genes underwent an audiological evaluation and a limited imaging study; variants and audiological phenotypes were analyzed. Of 562 patients, 20 had SLC26A4 bi-allelic mutations; 8 carried single mutations in both SLC26A4 and KCNJ10. No pathogenic mutations in the FOXI1 gene were found. Four missense mutations in KCNJ10 were detected, including c.812GA, c.800AG, c.53GA, and c.1042CT. Eight individuals with a DHMs all passed universal newborn hearing screening, and all were found to have normal hearing. These data suggest that individuals with an SLC26A4 single-allele mutation, combined with FOXI1 or KCNJ10 gene mutations, do not suffer hearing loss during infancy, though this finding is worthy of further follow-up and in-depth discussion.

The p.V37I (c.109G>A) mutation in the GJB2 gene is the common frequent cause of congenital deafness; however, its pathogenicity is debated. The present study investigated the prevalence of p.V37I in Chinese infants and young children and associated clinical characteristics. The subjects of the present study were screened for mutations in GJB2 (235delC, 299delAT, 176dell6, 35delG), SLC26A4 (IVS7-2A>G, 2168A>G), GJB3 (538C>T), and in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene (1555A>G, 1494C>T). Subjects with p.V37I underwent an audiological evaluation. GJB2 exon sequencing revealed that 20 subjects had p.V37I compound heterozygous mutations, one of whom had a family history; the mutations included c.235delC/p.V37I (n = 12), c.299AT/p.V37I (n = 7), and c.176del16/p.V37I (n = 1). Of the 20 subjects, 12 were referred for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS). Nine of the 20 subjects had mild hearing loss in the better ear and 5 had moderate hearing loss in the better ear while 4 had normal hearing. Among subjects with the c.235delC/p.V37I mutation, 5 had mild hearing loss and 2 had moderate hearing loss while 3 had normal hearing. Among subjects with the c.299AT/p.V37I mutation, 3 had mld hearing loss and 3 had moderate hearing loss while 1 had normal hearing. One subject with the c.176del16/p.V37I mutation had mild hearing loss. Few studies have reported on the clinical characteristics of Chinese infants with p.V37I compound heterozygous mutations identified via screening for deafness genes and GJB2 sequencing. The c.235delC/p.V37I mutation was the most prevalent mutation found in subjects. The degree of hearing loss associated with p.V37I compound heterozygous mutations was mainly mild to moderate.

Objectives The present study aimed to determine the status of a universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) program being conducted in parts of China, by comparing differences in the program findings between 2016 and 2017, as well as across regions in China. Methods This study investigated a nationally representative sample of newborns from 26 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in mainland China. A ‘‘Newborn Hearing Screening Survey’’ questionnaire was sent to 43 hearing screening institutions throughout China and the data were analyzed, with appropriate quality control throughout the study process. Results Twenty-six questionnaires, covering 55.88% (19/34) of the provincial administrative regions in China were appropriately completed. The overall sampling frame comprised 238,795 (year 2016) and 229,185 (year 2017) newborns, respectively. We found differences between two years, the initial screening coverage in 2017 (96.10%) was higher than that in 2016 (94.96%); the referral rate at initial screening in 2017 (9.21%) was lower than that in 2016 (10.26%); and the rescreening rate in 2017 (73.50%) was higher than that in 2016 (68.44%). We found differences across three regions, the rescreening rate were highest in West China, the referral rate at rescreening and the referral rate to diagnostic audiological assessment diagnosis were both highest, while the hearing-loss rate was lowest, in the East China in two years. Overall, 61.54% (n = 16) reported using otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), while 38.46% (n = 10) reported using OAEs in combination with automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) tests, for the initial screening. For rescreening, most sites (n = 19, 73.08%) reported using OAEs in combination with AABR, followed by OAEs only (n = 4, 15.38%) and AABR only (n = 3, 11.54%). Of the twenty-six institutions, 57.69% (n = 15) were equipped with a digital information management system for UNHS program, East China had the highest rate of it (81.82%, 9/11). Conclusions This study indicated that implementation of a UNHS program had essentially been achieved in many regions of China under the guidance of technical specifications for newborn hearing screening. Compared with 2016, the overall quality of the UNHS program had improved in 2017 and that in East China was better than in the Midland and West China. However, national quality control of the UNHS program is still required to enhance the quality of the program and public education needs to be emphasized to improve the rescreening and reception rate.