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Abstract Organic crystal-based superimposed heterostructures with inherent multichannel characteristics demonstrate superior potential for manipulating excitons/photons at the micro/nanoscale for integrated optoelectronics. However, the precise construction of organic superimposed heterostructures with fixed superimposed sites remains challenging because of the random molecular nucleation process. Here, organic vertically superimposed heterostructures (OSHs) with fixed superimposed positions are constructed via semi-wrapped core/shell heterostructures with partially exposed cores, which provide preferential nucleation sites for further molecular epitaxial growth processes. Furthermore, the relative length ratio from 21.7% to 95.3% between interlayers is accurately adjusted by regulating the exposed area of the semi-wrapped core/shell heterostructures. Significantly, these OSHs with anisotropic optical characteristics demonstrate well regulation of excitation position-dependent waveguide behaviors and can function as photonic barcodes for information encryption. This strategy provides a facile approach for controlling the nucleation sites for the controllable preparation of organic heterostructures and advanced applications for integrated optoelectronics.

Abstract Background In this study, we sought to quantify the influence of vertical control assisted by a temporary anchorage device (TAD) on orthodontic treatment efficacy for skeletal class II patients with a hyperdivergent facial type and probe into the critical factors of profile improvement. Methods A total of 36 adult patients with skeletal class II and a hyperdivergent facial type were included in this retrospective case–control study. To exclude the effect of sagittal anchorage reinforcement, the patients were divided into two groups: a maxillary maximum anchorage (MMA) group (N = 17), in which TADs were only used to help with anterior tooth retraction, and the MMA with vertical control (MMA + VC) group (N = 19), for which TADs were also used to intrude the maxillary molars and incisors. The treatment outcome was evaluated using dental, skeletal, and soft-tissue-related parameters via a cephalometric analysis and cast superimposition. Results A significant decrease in ANB (P

The effect of legume proteins (soy protein (SP), chickpea protein (CP) and peanut protein (PP)) on the properties of wheat starch-lauric acid (WS-LA) system and its intrinsic mechanism were investigated. RVA, digestion experiment and TGA results showed that legume proteins prompted the viscosity peak formation during cooling stage and increased anti-digestion and thermal stability of WS-LA system. FT-IR, Raman, XRD and 13C NMR results indicated that legume proteins improved the long-range and short-range ordering degree and single-helix structure of WS-LA system. SP had greater influence on the properties of WS-LA system than that of CP and PP. Proteins with high solubility, emulsifying properties and β-sheet content were conducive to starch-based complexes formation. Molecular dynamics simulation results indicated that major forces for WS-LA-SP formation were hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. This study offered crucial information on starch-fatty acid-protein complexes formation for proteins selection in starch-based products development.

Abstract Organic heterostructures (OHTs) with the desired geometry organization on micro/nanoscale have undergone rapid progress in nanoscience and nanotechnology. However, it is a significant challenge to elucidate the epitaxial-growth process for various OHTs composed of organic units with a lattice mismatching ratio of > 3%, which is unimaginable for inorganic heterostructures. Herein, we have demonstrated a vivid visualization of the morphology evolution of epitaxial-growth based on a doped interfacial-layer, which facilitates the comprehensive understanding of the hierarchical self-assembly of core-shell OHT with precise spatial configuration. Significantly, the barcoded OHT with periodic shells obviously illustrate the shell epitaxial-growth from tips to center parts along the seeded rods for forming the core-shell OHT. Furthermore, the diameter, length, and number of periodic shells were modulated by finely tuning the stoichiometric ratio, crystalline time, and temperature, respectively. This epitaxial-growth process could be generalized to organic systems with facile chemical/structural compatibility for forming the desired OHTs.

Organic lasers that emit light in the deep-red and near-infrared (NIR) region are of essential importance in laser communication, night vision, bioimaging, and information-secured displays but are still challenging because of the lack of proper gain materials. Herein, a new molecular design strategy that operates by merging two excited-state intramolecular proton transfer-active molecules into one excited-state double proton transfer (ESDPT)-active molecule was demonstrated. Based on this new strategy, three new materials were designed and synthesized with two groups of intramolecular resonance-assisted hydrogen bonds, in which the ESDPT process was proven to proceed smoothly based on theoretical calculations and experimental results of steady-state and transient spectra. Benefiting from the effective six-level system constructed by the ESDPT process, all newly designed materials showed low threshold laser emissions at approximately 720 nm when doped in PS microspheres, which in turn proved the existence of the second proton transfer process. More importantly, our well-developed NIR organic lasers showed high laser stability, which can maintain high laser intensity after 12000 pulse lasing, which is essential in practical applications. This work provides a simple and effective method for the development of NIR organic gain materials and demonstrates the ESDPT mechanism for NIR lasing.

This study examines the impact of ethical leadership on top management team (TMT) decision-making regarding corporate social responsibility (CSR), considering the mediating role of TMT passion and the moderating role of performance stress. The study distinguishes between TMT harmonious and obsessive work passion and categorizes CSR as proactive and reactive. The findings reveal the following: (1) Ethical leadership positively influences proactive CSR, with TMT harmonious work passion acting as a positive mediator and TMT obsessive work passion playing a negative mediating role; (2) ethical leadership positively affects reactive CSR, with both TMT harmonious and obsessive work passion serving as positive mediators; (3) performance stress diminishes the impact of ethical leadership on TMT harmonious work passion; however, it amplifies the effect on TMT obsessive work passion. Consequently, the mediating effect of TMT harmonious work passion weakens, while the mediating effect of TMT obsessive work passion strengthens. This study emphasizes the significant role of TMT in CSR strategic decision-making and proposes a novel mediating mechanism through which ethical leadership drives CSR decision-making by considering TMT work passion. These findings reconcile the theoretical-practical conflict and have important theoretical and practical implications for enterprises in fulfilling their social responsibility.

The large-scale synthesis of organic heterostructure nanowires is challenging. Here, the authors report the synthesis of organic triblock nanowires via a lattice mismatch-free strategy.

The aim of this study was to understand the potential of endogenous gluten inhibiting the digestibility in vitro of wheat starch (WS) in starch-fatty acid-protein system. Therefore, the influences of gluten and whey protein isolate (WPI) on the properties, multi-scale structure and in vitro digestibility of WS in WS-oleic acid (OA)-protein system were compared. The results of digestibility in vitro indicated that the ternary system of starch-fatty acid-protein showed higher resistant starch (RS) content as well as lower rapidly digestible starch (RDS) content than the binary system of WS-OA, demonstrating protein decreased WS digestion of WS-OA system. The results of pasting properties showed that gluten and WPI both increased the viscosities of WS-OA system during the cooling period due to the formation of WS-OA-protein ternary complex. The results of swelling power and solubility analysis showed that gluten and WPI both decreased the swelling power and solubility of WS-OA binary system. Laser Confocal Raman and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies indicated that gluten and WPI both increased the ordered degree of WS-OA binary system by decreasing the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the peak at 480 cm−1 and increasing crystallinity degree. Strikingly, compared with WPI, gluten had greater effects on the digestibility in vitro, pasting properties and ordered degree of WS in WS-OA-protein system. Therefore, gluten as an endogenous protein has the potential application in reduction the enzymatic digestibility of WS by regulating the reassembly of starch and fatty acid during thermal processing.

Abstract Organic photochromic materials have drawn considerable attention for their potential applications in large‐scale and low‐cost optoelectronics owing to unique tunable physicochemical properties. For organic photodetectors, photochromic materials have realized optical and electrical engineering of semiconductor layers, which incorporate not only tunable performance, but also functionalities to optoelectronic devices. However, the essential challenge is to assemble large‐area photochromic micro‐ and nanostructure arrays with controllable geometry and precise alignment, which restricts the integration of multifunctional optoelectronic devices. Herein, we fabricate organic photochromic one‐dimensional (1D) arrays via a feasible solution process through the confined crystallization of organic molecules. By modulating and controlling the photoisomerization behaviors, these 1D photochromic arrays possess broad spectral tunability, which ensure tunable photoresponse. Furthermore, we investigate the crystallographic transition and electronic performance variation of these 1D photochromic arrays. By adjusting the dwell time of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, the UV photochromic photodetectors realize tunable and repeatable responsivity from 85.6 to 0.709 mA/W. Our work provides new possibilities for optical and electrical engineering of photochromic microwires towards the integration of multifunctional optoelectronic devices.

Organic near‐infrared (NIR) emissive materials integrating the intrinsic NIR light advantages and organic semiconductor characters have generated immense scientific interest in fundamental science and practical application, including optical communications, night vision, surveillance, and biomedical applications. Nevertheless, the intrinsic energy gap law engenders a huge challenge to simultaneously meet longer emission wavelength and higher luminescence efficiency for organic NIR emitters. Herein, it is suggested that the purposefully molecular design and crystal engineering for novel organic NIR materials are urgently studied and explored. Herein, recent advances in novel organic NIR materials, mainly focusing on the hybridized local and charge transfer (HLCT) compounds, thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters, CT cocrystals, neutral π‐radicals, and excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)‐active materials, are summarized. It is hoped that this perspective can afford a new insight into the fine design and synthesis of the desired organic NIR emitters.

Rationally designing and precisely constructing the dimensions, configurations and compositions of organic micro- and nanomaterials are key issues in material chemistry, but remain challenging. Here, the authors realize the fine synthesis of organic superstructure microwires via a hierarchical epitaxial-growth approach.

Abstract Thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) materials have attracted increasing attention because of their ability to harvest triplet excitons via a reverse intersystem crossing process. TADF gain materials that can recycle triplet excitons for stimulated emission are considered for solving the triplet accumulation problem in electrically pumped organic solid‐state lasers (OSSLs). In this mini review, recent progress in TADF gain materials is summarized, and design principles are extracted from existing reports. The construction methods of resonators based on TADF gain materials are also introduced, and the challenges and perspectives for the future development of TADF gain materials are presented. It is hoped that this review will aid the advances in TADF gain materials and thus promote the development of electrically pumped OSSLs.

Though organic emitters with room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) are attractive for various applications, realizing highly efficient and long lifetime emission remains a challenge. Here, the authors report the role of push-pull electronic effects on emission for organic RTP emitters.

Organic heterostructures attract attention in material chemistry but the precise bottom-up synthesis is still challenging. Herein the authors present a hierarchical self-assembly approach to synthesize one-dimensional organic heterostructures by regulating the noncovalent interactions.

In order to discover pesticidal lead compounds with high activity and low toxicity, a series of novel benzamides substituted with pyrazole-linked 1,2,4-oxadiazole were designed via bioisosterism. The chemical structures of the target compounds were confirmed via 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS analysis. The preliminary bioassay showed that most compounds exhibited good lethal activities against Mythimna separate, Helicoverpa armigera, Ostrinia nubilalis and Spodoptera frugiperda at 500 mg/L. Particularly in the case of Mythimna separate, compound 14q (70%) exhibited obvious insecticidal activity. In addition, compound 14h demonstrated good fungicidal activity against Pyricularia oryae with an inhibition rate of 77.8%, and compounds 14e, 14k, 14n and 14r also showed certain antifungal activities (55.6–66.7%). The zebrafish toxicity test showed that the LC50 of compound 14h was 14.01 mg/L, which indicated that it may be used as a potential leading compound for further structural optimization.

Abstract Organic micro/nanocrystals have been intensively studied and great progress has been achieved in both the modulation of optical/electronical property and the controllable synthesis of single component of low‐dimensional materials. In particular, organic heterostructures (OHSs) are one of the key factors for the multifunctional optoelectronic devices to construct integrated circuits. However, the fine synthesis of OHSs remains a challenge due to the easy occurrence of homogeneous nucleation raised by the weak intermolecular interaction. A facile solution “bottom‐up” fabrication approach is demonstrated for the longitudinal‐ and horizontal‐growth OHSs through building up blocks of MPY (1,4‐phenylene‐bis(3‐(2‐methoxylpyridin‐6‐yl)acrylonitrile)) nanowires and polymorphic TBPe (2,5,8,11‐tetra‐tert‐butylperylene) microcrystals by controlling the evaporation rate of solvents. The growth directions of longitudinal and horizontal OHSs are demonstrated to be driven by the face‐selective principle and the lowest energy principle, respectively. The directional controllable fabrication method provides a novel strategy for the fine synthesis of OHSs. In addition, three models of optical logic gates “100,” “110,” and “111” based on these as‐prepared OHSs with multiple outputs are constructed, which are the potential candidates for the multifunctional integrated optoelectronics.

Objectives: To assess off-treatment virological relapse rates and to determine the role of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) quantification in predicting virological relapse after stopping entecavir (ETV) treatment in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: One hundred and twelve CHB patients for whom ETV was stopped in accordance with the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver guidelines stopping rules were enrolled. Patient HBsAg and HBV DNA levels were monitored every 4–12 weeks during ETV treatment and after ETV cessation. Post-treatment virological relapse was defined as a serum HBV DNA level of >10 000 copies/ml after stopping ETV treatment. Results: The virological relapse rate at 52 weeks after stopping ETV was 48.2%. The post-treatment virological relapse rate was significantly higher in patients aged >50 years than in those aged 2.5 log10 IU/ml at HBeAg seroconversion, only 4.4% achieved this criterion. Conclusions: HBsAg levels can help guide the timing of cessation of ETV treatment. HBsAg levels of 2.5 log10 IU/ml at HBeAg seroconversion may be a useful marker to predict virological relapse after the cessation of ETV treatment in HBeAg-positive CHB patients.

BackgroundTemporomandibular disorders (TMDs) have the highest prevalence in women of reproductive age. The role of estrogen in TMDs and especially in TMDs related pain is not fully elucidated. Voltage-gated sodium channel 1.7 (Nav1.7) plays a prominent role in pain perception and Nav1.7 in trigeminal ganglion (TG) is involved in the hyperalgesia of inflamed Temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Whether estrogen could upregulate trigeminal ganglionic Nav1.7 expression to enhance hyperalgesia of inflamed TMJ remains to be explored.MethodsEstrous cycle and plasma levels of 17β-estradiol in female rats were evaluated with vaginal smear and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Female rats were ovariectomized and treated with 17β-estradiol at 0 μg, 20 μg and 80 μg, respectively, for 10 days. TMJ inflammation was induced using complete Freund's adjuvant. Head withdrawal thresholds and food intake were measured to evaluate the TMJ nociceptive responses. The expression of Nav1.7 in TG was examined using real-time PCR and western blot. The activity of Nav1.7 promoter was examined using luciferase reporter assay. The locations of estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ), the G protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPR30), and Nav1.7 in TG were examined using immunohistofluorescence.ResultsUpregulation of Nav1.7 in TG and decrease in head withdrawal threshold were observed with the highest plasma 17β-estradiol in the proestrus of female rats. Ovariectomized rats treated with 80 μg 17β-estradiol showed upregulation of Nav1.7 in TG and decrease in head withdrawal threshold as compared with that of the control or ovariectomized rats treated with 0 μg or 20 μg. Moreover, 17β-estradiol dose-dependently potentiated TMJ inflammation-induced upregulation of Nav1.7 in TG and also enhanced TMJ inflammation-induced decrease of head withdrawal threshold in ovariectomized rats. In addition, the estrogen receptor antagonist, ICI 182,780, partially blocked the 17β-estradiol effect on Nav1.7 expression and head withdrawal threshold in ovariectomized rats. ERα and ERβ, but not GPR30, were mostly co-localized with Nav1.7 in neurons in TG. In the nerve growth factor-induced and ERα-transfected PC12 cells, 17β-estradiol dose-dependently enhanced Nav1.7 promoter activity, whereas mutations of the estrogen response element at -1269/-1282 and -1214/-1227 in the promoter completely abolished its effect on the promoter activity.ConclusionEstradiol could upregulate trigeminal ganglionic Nav1.7 expression to contribute to hyperalgesia of inflamed TMJ.

Mechanical tension is widely applied on the suture to modulate the growth of craniofacial bones. Deeply understanding the features of bone formation in expanding sutures could help us to improve the outcomes of clinical treatment and avoid some side effects. Although there are reports that have uncovered some biological characteristics, the regular pattern of sutural bone formation in response to expansion forces is still unknown. Our study was to investigate the shape, arrangement and orientation of new bone formation in expanding sutures and explore related clinical implications. The premaxillary sutures of rat, which histologically resembles the sutures of human beings, became wider progressively under stretch force. Micro-CT detected new bones at day 3. Morphologically, these bones were forming in a finger-like pattern, projecting from the maxillae into the expanded sutures. There were about 4 finger-like bones appearing on the selected micro-CT sections at day 3 and this number increased to about 18 at day 7. The average length of these projections increased from 0.14 mm at day 3 to 0.81 mm at day 7. The volume of these bony protuberances increased to the highest level of 0.12 mm3 at day 7. HE staining demonstrated that these finger-like bones had thick bases connecting with the maxillae and thin fronts stretching into the expanded suture. Nasal sections had a higher frequency of finger-like bones occuring than the oral sections at day 3 and day 5. Masson-stained sections showed stretched fibers embedding into maxillary margins. Osteocalcin-positive osteoblasts changed their shapes from cuboidal to spindle and covered the surfaces of finger-like bones continuously. Alizarin red S and calcein deposited in the inner and outer layers of finger-like bones respectively, which showed that longer and larger bones formed on the nasal side of expanded sutures compared with the oral side. Interestingly, these finger-like bones were almost paralleling with the direction of stretch force. Inclined force led to inclined finger-like bones formation and deflection of bilateral maxillae. Additionally, heavily compressive force caused fracture of finger-like bones in the sutures. These data together proposed the special finger-like pattern of bone formation in sutures guided by stretch force, providing important implications for maxillary expansion.

BACKGROUND: NT-proBNP has been widely regarded as a useful tool for diagnosis or exclusion of heart failure (HF) in many settings. However, in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (AECB), its roles have not been well described. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of NT-proBNP for identifying left ventricular (LV) failure in such patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: 311 AECB patients and 102 stable chronic bronchitis patients with no history of HF were enrolled. Plasma NT-proBNP concentrations were measured using Roche Elecsys. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) diagnostic principles were adopted to identify HF and the diagnostic performance of NT-proBNP was evaluated by ROC. Our results showed, the median NT-proBNP level in patients with LV failure [4828.4 (2044.4-9203.6) ng/L] was significantly higher than that in those without LV failure [519.2 (179.1-1409.8) ng/L, p

In the title compound, [Pb2(C7H4O6S)2(C12H8N2)2(H2O)2]·CH3COOH, the seven-coordinate PbII atom is chelated by two N atoms of one 1,10-phenanthroline ligand, four O atoms from three 5-sulfosalicylate dianions and one water O atom. Each dianion serves as a bridging ligand, connecting adjacent PbII atoms into a centrosymmetric polymeric chain extending parallel to [001]. There are π–π interactions between the aromatic systems of neighbouring dianions, with plane-to-plane distances of 3.371 (2) Å, and between phenanthroline ligands, with a centroid-to-centroid distance of 3.484 (2) Å. O—H...O hydrogen bonding additionally stabilizes the crystal packing. The acetic acid molecules are incorporated in the voids of this arrangement. They exhibit half-occupancy due to disorder around a centre of inversion.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is an important subtype of temporomandibular disorders. A simple and reproducible animal model that mimics the histopathologic changes, both in the cartilage and subchondral bone, and clinical symptoms of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) would help in our understanding of its process and underlying mechanism. OBJECTIVE: To explore whether injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) into the upper compartment of rat TMJ could induce OA-like lesions. METHODS: Female rats were injected with varied doses of MIA into the upper compartment and observed for up to 12 weeks. Histologic, radiographic, behavioral, and molecular changes in the TMJ were evaluated by light and electron microscopy, MicroCT scanning, head withdrawal threshold test, real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL assay. RESULTS: The intermediate zone of the disc loosened by 1 day post-MIA injection and thinned thereafter. Injection of an MIA dose of 0.5 mg or higher induced typical OA-like lesions in the TMJ within 4 weeks. Condylar destruction presented in a time-dependent manner, including chondrocyte apoptosis in the early stages, subsequent cartilage matrix disorganization and subchondral bone erosion, fibrosis, subchondral bone sclerosis, and osteophyte formation in the late stages. Nociceptive responses increased in the early stages, corresponding to severe synovitis. Furthermore, chondrocyte apoptosis and an imbalance between anabolism and catabolism of cartilage and subchondral bone might account for the condylar destruction. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-level data demonstrated a reliable and convenient rat model of TMJOA could be induced by MIA injection into the upper compartment. The model might facilitate TMJOA related researches.