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We report the carrier transport properties of a furan-containing oligoaryl PF6, which contains no arylamine moiety in the molecular structure but exhibits competitive hole-transport capability in comparison with conventional arylamine-based hole-transport materials often used in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) and xerography. Thin films of this compound exhibit both morphological stability and appropriate energy levels for OLED applications. OLEDs using PF6 as the hole-transport layer show low turn-on voltage, high efficiency, and high brightness competitive with those using conventional hole-transport materials, strongly indicating superior hole-transport properties of PF6. The carrier mobility of PF6 was directly measured by the time-of-flight transient photocurrent technique under various temperatures and electric fields. Nondispersive hole transport was observed and a room-temperature hole mobility in excess of 10[sup -3] cm[sup 2]/V s was obtained under high fields. The field and temperature dependence of hole mobility were analyzed and were found consistent with the Bässler (disorder) formalism. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2,2-Bis-[4-(/i-cyan-ethoxy)-phenyl]-propane (DBDCN), 2-[4-(ß-cyan-ethoxy)-phenyl]-2'-(4-methoxyphenyl)propane (DBMCN) and 2,2-bis(4-me1hoxyphenyl)propane (DBMB) were synthesized by modifying bisphenol A through a Michael addition reaction using acrylonitrile or methyl etherification using dimethyl sulfate. These compounds were explored as new redox shuttle additives for overcharge protection in lithium-ion batteries. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), overcharge test, electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS), charge-discharge cycle performance, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were carried out to investigate the electrochemical performances and the compatibility of these additives in the electrolyte with LiFePO4 electrode. These three compounds had a working potential of 4.1 V (vs Li/Li+), and showed significantly improved overcharge protection performance when used as additive (0.1 mol/L) in 1 mol/L LiPF6/[ethylene carbonate (EC) + diethyl carbonate (DEC) + ethylmethyl carbonate (EMC) (1:1:1, by volume)]. Among them, DBMB exhibited best overcharge protection performance in 100% overcharge at 5 V cutoff voltage. After 100 cycles at 0.5 C rate, the capacity retention for LiFePO4/Li cell by using the base electrolyte and the electrolyte with 0.1 mol/L DBDCN, 0.1 mol/L DBMB and 0.1 mol/L DBMCN additive, were respectively 134.5 mA-h/g, 135.3 mA-h/g, 132.8 mA-h/g and127.0 mA-h/g; the corresponding capacity retention rate were 87.7%, 87.0%, 89.5% and 84.3%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium disulfide (SeS2) exhibits unique advantages beyond selenium and sulfur as cathode materials for lithium storage. Herein, a dual-confined SeS2-based cathode configuration by encapsulating SeS2 in sulfur-doped mesoporous carbon (SMC) followed by 3D graphene (3DG) wrapping was proposed. The morphology and structure of the as-prepared 3DG-SMC-SeS2 nanocomposite were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The results showed that SeS2 was uniformly distributed in the mesoporous channels of SMC matrix, and the SMC-SeS2 composite was well wrapped by the 3DG. Benefiting from the indispensable advantages of SeS2 and the uniquely designed host architecture, the 3DG-SMC-SeS2 composite cathode exhibited excellent cycling performance, accompanied by outstanding high rate capability. This novel SeS2-based cathode material provides a feasible strategy to surmount the main bottlenecks of current lithium-sulfur batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the expression levels of selenoprotein genes in the patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the possible regulatory mechanisms.Methods The dataset GSE177477 was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus,consisting of a symptomatic group ( n =11),an asymptomatic group ( n =18),and a healthy control group ( n =18).The dataset was preprocessed to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEG) related to COVID-19,and gene ontology functional annotation and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analysis were performed for the DEGs.The protein-protein interaction network of DEGs was established,and multivariate Logistic regression was employed to analyze the effects of selenoprotein genes on the presence/absence of symptoms in the patients with COVID-19.Results Compared with the healthy control,the symptomatic COVID-19 patients presented up-regulated expression of GPX1,GPX4,GPX6,DIO2,TXNRD1,SELENOF,SELENOK,SELENOS,SELENOT,and SELENOW and down-regulated expression of TXNRD2 and SELENON (all P <0.05).The asymptomatic patients showcased up-regulated expression of GPX2,SELENOI,SELENOO,SELENOS,SELENOT,and SELENOW and down-regulated expression of SELP (all P <0.05).The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the abnormally high expression of GPX1 ( OR =0.067,95% CI =0.005-0.904, P =0.042) and SELENON ( OR =56.663,95% CI =3.114-856.999, P =0.006) was the risk factor for symptomatic COVID-19,and the abnormally high expression of SELP was a risk factor for asymptomatic COVID-19 ( OR =15.000,95% CI =2.537-88.701, P =0.003).Conclusions Selenoprotein genes with differential expression are involved in the regulation of COVID-19 development.The findings provide a new reference for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Objective To study the expression of selenoprotein genes in human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)infection and its mother-to-child transmission,so as to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention,diagnosis,and treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.Methods The dataset GSE4124 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO).Two groups of HIV-positive mothers( n =25)and HIV-negative mothers( n =20)were designed.HIV-positive mothers included a subset of transmitter(TR)mothers( n =11)and non-transmitter(NTR)mothers( n =14).Then, t -test was carried out to compare the expression levels of selenoprotein genes between the four groups(HIV-positive vs. HIV-negative,NTR vs. HIV-negative,TR vs. HIV-negative,TR vs. NTR).Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression were adopted to analyze the effects of differentially expressed genes on HIV infection and mother-to-child transmission.R software was used to establish a nomogram prediction model and evaluate the model performance.Results Compared with the HIV-negative group,HIV-positive,NTR,and TR groups had 8,5 and 8 down-regulated selenoprotein genes,respectively.Compared with the NTR group,the TR group had 4 down-regulated selenoprotein genes.Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that abnormally high expression of GPX1,GPX3,GPX4,TXNRD1,TXNRD3,and SEPHS2 affected HIV infection and had no effect on mother-to-child transmission.The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the abnormally high expression of TXNRD3( OR =0.032,95% CI =0.002-0.607, P =0.022)was positively correlated with HIV infection.As for the nomogram prediction model,the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for 1-year survival of HIV-infected patients was 0.840(95% CI =0.690-1.000),and that for 3-year survival of HIV-infected patients was 0.870(95% CI =0.730-1.000).Conclusions Multiple selenoprotein genes with down-regulated expression levels were involved in the regulation of HIV infection and mother-to-child transmission.The abnormal high expression of TXNRD3 was positively correlated with HIV infection.The findings provide new ideas for the prevention,diagnosis,and treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Background: Tanscatheter left atrial appendage (LAA) closure and minimally invasive thoracoscopic LAA occlusion are local interventions of LAA for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). However, the safety and efficacy of these methods have not been compared. This prospective cohort study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of those two treatment approaches for stroke prevention in NVAF patients., Methods: Two hundred and nine recurrent NVAF patients who received radiofrequency ablation were enrolled. These patients were treated with transcatheter LAA closure or thoracoscopic LAA occlusion. The patients were followed up from the first postoperative day and evaluated for efficacy endpoints (stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), systemic embolism (SE), and death) and a safety endpoint (bleeding events). Perioperative complications were recorded., Results: After a median follow-up of 1.8 years (383 patient-years), the overall rate of the composite efficacy endpoints was similar between the two groups (3.8 vs . 2.7 events per 100 patient-years; HR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.225-2.237; P = 0.559). However, regarding primary safety endpoint, there were 1.5 bleeding events per 100 patient-years in the thoracoscopic LAA occlusion group, compared with 6.4 in transcatheter LAA closure group (HR = 0.246; 95% CI: 0.074-0.819; P = 0.022). The incidence of operative complications was 3/138 (2.17%) in thoracoscopic LAA occlusion group and 1/71 (1.41%) in transcatheter LAA closure group., Conclusions: Thoracoscopic LAA occlusion and transcatheter LAA closure have similar efficacy in preventing stroke in NVAF patients. However, the thoracoscopic group had fewer bleeding events than the transcatheter group, but the former group required a longer hospital stay., Competing Interests: None., (Copyright and License information: Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2021.)

To study the chemical constituents of Drynariae Rhizoma, nine phenolic acids were isolated from a 70% ethanol extract by using a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, and semi-preparative HPLC. By spectroscopic techniques including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 2D NMR, and HR-ESI-MS, these compounds were identified as 4, 4'-dihydroxy-3, 3'-imino-di-benzoic acid (1), protocatechuic acid (2), gallic acid (3), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (4), (E)-caffeic acid (5), ethyl trans-3, 4-dihydroxycinnamate (6), caffeic acid 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), p-coumaric acid 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (8), and 23(S)-12-O-caffeoyl-12-hydroxyllauric acid glycerol ester (9), separately. Among them, 1 and 9 are new compounds, and 3, 4, and 6 were isolated from Drynaria species for the first time.

Objective: To summarize clinical application experience of treatment of occluded iliofemoral veins with great saphenous vein cross-over bypasses., Methods: From September 1998 to December 2005,6 patients(5 men, 1 woman) with occluded iliofemoral veins underwent great saphenous vein cross-over bypasses. They ranged in age from 36 to 52 years (mean, 41 years old). All patients had unilateral thigh and leg edema and swelling with accompanying pain. The normal contralateral great saphenous vein was dissected and it was tunneled across the super-pubic fat pad and anastomosed to the femoral vein or the proximal portion of great saphenous vein in distal to occluded iliofemoral veins., Results: The postoperative course was uneventful. One case sustained superficial infection postoperatively at donor site and the gradual wound healed by daily wound dressings. At 1 to 3.5 years (mean 1.8 years) followed up, all patients had pain disappearance and obvious relief of the edema but some swelling., Conclusion: Great saphenous vein cross-over bypasses is effective operative method of treatment of occluded iliofemoral veins. The operation is relatively simple and safe.

EDOT-capped sigma3-phosphole self-rigidifies due to an unprecedented P-O interaction and can be electropolymerised affording functionalizable polymers.

Objective: To summarize clinical application of one-stage toenail lengthening in free second toe transfer for reconstruction of the thumb (finger)., Methods: Nine patients (male 7, female 2) underwent thumb (finger) reconstruction with second toe transfer were treated by one-stage toenail lengthening technique. Eight were the thumb and 1 was the index finger. Patients aged from 18 to 46 years,with an average of 25 years. A rectangle skin was resected at 0.5 cm away from the eponychium, which was 0.2 cm high and as wide as the toenail. Then stripped U shape flap gently towards proximal end and sutured it. During the operation, the injury of the subcutaneous vascular network should be avoided., Results: Superficial infection at donor area happened in 1 case and was healed by changing dressings. All the reconstruction thumbs (fingers) had survived completely. 2 to 3 mm extending of toenail length was obtained and the appearance of thumb (finger) was improved. There was no growth deformation of toenail. After 7 to 24 months follow up (the average time 13 months), the appearance of the nail was good., Conclusions: One-stage toenail lengthening in free second toe transfer for reconstruction of the thumb (finger), which can obtain a satisfactory appearance of the nail and have no influence on the motion of the reconstruction thumb (finger), is a simple and an effective operative procedure.