Modulation of Buried Interface by 1-(3-aminopropyl)-Imidazole for Efficient Inverted Formamidinium-Cesium Perovskite Solar Cells.

Considering the direct influence of substrate surface nature on perovskite (PVK) film growth, buried interfacial engineering is crucial to obtain ideal perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, 1-(3-aminopropyl)-imidazole (API) is introduced at polytriarylamine (PTAA)/PVK interface to modulate the bottom property of PVK. First, the introduction of API improves the growth of PVK grains and reduces the Pb2+ defects and residual PbI2 present at the bottom of the film, contributing to the acquisition of high-quality PVK film. Besides, the presence of API can optimize the energy structure between PVK and PTAA, which facilitates the interfacial charge transfer. Density functional theory (DFT) reveals that the electron donor unit (R-C ═ N) of the API prefers to bind with Pb2+ traps at the PVK interface, while the formation of hydrogen bonds between the R-NH2 of API and I- strengthens the above binding ability. Consequently, the optimum API-treated inverted formamidinium-cesium (FA/Cs) PSCs yields a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.02% and exhibited favorable stability.

Efficacy and safety of low-dose cyclophosphamide combined with lenvatinib, pembrolizumab and TACE for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: A single-center, prospective, single-arm clinical trial.

Objective: Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) continues to pose effective treatment options. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of combining low-dose cyclophosphamide with lenvatinib, pembrolizumab and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for the treatment of uHCC. Methods: From February 2022 to November 2023, a total of 40 patients diagnosed with uHCC were enrolled in this small-dose, single-center, single-arm, prospective study. They received a combined treatment of low-dose cyclophosphamide with lenvatinib, pembrolizumab, and TACE. Study endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and safety assessment. Tumor response was assessed using the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST), while survival analysis was conducted through Kaplan-Meier curve analysis for overall survival (OS) and PFS. Adverse events (AEs) were evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 5.0). Results: A total of 34 patients were included in the study. The median follow-up duration was 11.2 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 5.3-14.6] months, and the median PFS (mPFS) was 15.5 (95% CI, 5.4-NA) months. Median OS (mOS) was not attained during the study period. The ORR was 55.9%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 70.6%. AEs were reported in 27 (79.4%) patients. The most frequently reported AEs (with an incidence rate >10%) included abnormal liver function (52.9%), abdominal pain (44.1%), abdominal distension and constipation (29.4%), hypertension (20.6%), leukopenia (17.6%), constipation (17.6%), ascites (14.7%), and insomnia (14.7%). Abnormal liver function (14.7%) had the most common grade 3 or higher AEs. Conclusions: A combination of low-dose cyclophosphamide with lenvatinib, pembrolizumab, and TACE is safe and effective for uHCC, showcasing a promising therapeutic strategy for managing uHCC.

Multifunctional Imidazolidinyl Urea Additive Initiated Complex with PbI2 Toward Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

High-quality perovskite absorption layer is the fundamental basis for efficient and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Due to the ionic nature of perovskite components, plentiful charged defects and suspension bonds remain on the surface of perovskite grains after continuous high-temperature annealing. Here, the complex initiated by the introduction of a multifunctional imidazolidinyl urea (IU) additive into the PbI2 precursor solution could serve as nucleation sites and crystallization templates for perovskite crystals to optimize the growth of high-quality perovskite films. By anchoring at the grain boundaries of perovskite films, IU molecules could passivate various types of defects, improve the hydrophobic properties, and inhibit lead leakage. Attributed to reduced defect density, improved charge transport, and inhibited α-FAPbI3 transition, the PSCs prepared based on IU additives achieved a champion power conversion efficiency of 23.18% (21.51% for the control PSCs) with negligible hysteresis and satisfactory stability.

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) organic molecules for efficient X-ray scintillation and imaging.

X-ray detection, which plays an important role in medical and industrial fields, usually relies on inorganic scintillators to convert X-rays to visible photons; although several high-quantum-yield fluorescent molecules have been tested as scintillators, they are generally less efficient. High-energy radiation can ionize molecules and create secondary electrons and ions. As a result, a high fraction of triplet states is generated, which act as scintillation loss channels. Here we found that X-ray-induced triplet excitons can be exploited for emission through very rapid, thermally activated up-conversion. We report scintillators based on three thermally activated delayed fluorescence molecules with different emission bands, which showed significantly higher efficiency than conventional anthracene-based scintillators. X-ray imaging with 16.6 line pairs mm-1 resolution was also demonstrated. These results highlight the importance of efficient and prompt harvesting of triplet excitons for efficient X-ray scintillation and radiation detection.

Can One Series of Self-Organized Nanoripples Guide Another Series of Self-Organized Nanoripples during Ion Bombardment: From the Perspective of Power Spectral Density Entropy?

Ion bombardment (IB) is a promising nanofabrication tool for self-organized nanostructures. When ions bombard a nominally flat solid surface, self-organized nanoripples can be induced on the irradiated target surface, which are called intrinsic nanoripples of the target material. The degree of ordering of nanoripples is an outstanding issue to be overcome, similar to other self-organization methods. In this study, the IB-induced nanoripples on bilayer systems with enhanced quality are revisited from the perspective of guided self-organization. First, power spectral density (PSD) entropy is introduced to evaluate the degree of ordering of the irradiated nanoripples, which is calculated based on the PSD curve of an atomic force microscopy image (i.e., the Fourier transform of the surface height. The PSD entropy can characterize the degree of ordering of nanoripples). The lower the PSD entropy of the nanoripples is, the higher the degree of ordering of the nanoripples. Second, to deepen the understanding of the enhanced quality of nanoripples on bilayer systems, the temporal evolution of the nanoripples on the photoresist (PR)/antireflection coating (ARC) and Au/ARC bilayer systems are compared with those of single PR and ARC layers. Finally, we demonstrate that a series of intrinsic IB-induced nanoripples on the top layer may act as a kind of self-organized template to guide the development of another series of latent IB-induced nanoripples on the underlying layer, aiming at improving the ripple ordering. The template with a self-organized nanostructure may alleviate the critical requirement for periodic templates with a small period of ~100 nm. The work may also provide inspiration for guided self-organization in other fields.

Advancements in understanding mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma radiosensitivity: A comprehensive review.

Primary liver cancer is a significant health problem worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the main pathological type of primary liver cancer, accounting for 75%-85% of cases. In recent years, radiotherapy has become an emerging treatment for HCC and is effective for various stages of HCC. However, radiosensitivity of liver cancer cells has a significant effect on the efficacy of radiotherapy and is regulated by various factors. How to increase radiosensitivity and improve the therapeutic effects of radiotherapy require further exploration. This review summarizes the recent research progress on the mechanisms affecting sensitivity to radiotherapy, including epigenetics, transportation and metabolism, regulated cell death pathways, the microenvironment, and redox status, as well as the effect of nanoparticles on the radiosensitivity of liver cancer. It is expected to provide more effective strategies and methods for clinical treatment of liver cancer by radiotherapy.

Spectral analysis on the acceptor concentration-dependent fluorescence resonance energy transfer process in CuInS2@ZnS-SQ complexes.

Owing to the broad spectral response and flexible choices of donors and acceptors, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) system based on quantum dots (QDs) is a potential candidate for enhancing performance of solar cells and other optoelectronic devices. Thus it is necessary to develop such FRET systems with high efficiency and understand the involved photophysical dynamics. Here, with type I CuInS2@ZnS core-shell quantum dots as the energy donor, series of CuInS2@ZnS-SQ complexes are synthesized by adjusting the acceptor (squaric acid, SQ) concentration. The FRET dynamics of the samples is systematically investigated by virtue of steady-state emission, time-resolved fluorescence decay, and transient absorption measurements. The experimental results display a positive correlation between the energy transfer efficient (η). The best energy transfer efficient achieved from experimental data is 52%. This work provides better understanding of the photophysical dynamics in similar complexes and facilitates further development of new photoelectronic devices based on relevant FRET systems.

Unambiguous spectral characterization on triplet energy transfer from quantum dots mediated by hole transfer competing with other carrier dynamics.

Triplet generation by quantum dots (QDs)-sensitized molecules emerges great potential in many applications. However, the mechanism of triplet energy transfer (TET) is still fuzzy especially due to the complicated energy level alignment of QDs and molecules or trap states in QDs. Here, CdSe QDs and 5-tetracene carboxylic acid (TCA) molecules are selected as the triplet donor and acceptor, respectively, to form a TET system. By tuning the band gap of CdSe, the CdSe-TCA complex is exactly designed to present a Type-II like alignment of relative energetics. Coupling the transient absorption and time-resolved fluorescence spectra, all carrier dynamics is distinctly elucidated. Quantitative analysis demonstrates that hole transfer persisting for ∼ 2 ps outcompetes all other carrier dynamics such as electron trapping (∼100 ps level), charge recombination (∼ 5 ns) and the so-called "back transfer charge recombination" (∼50 ns), and thus leads to a hole-transfer-mediated TET process. The low TET yield (∼34.0%) ascribed to electron behavior can be further improved if electron trapping and charge recombination are efficiently suppressed. The observation on distinguishable carrier dynamics attributed to legitimate design of energy level alignment facilitates a better understanding of the TET mechanism from QDs to molecules as well as further development of photoelectronic devices based on such TET systems.

Molecular Gold Nanocluster Au156 Showing Metallic Electron Dynamics.

The boundary between molecular and metallic gold nanoclusters is of special interest. The difficulty in obtaining atomically precise nanoclusters larger than 2 nm limits the determination of such a boundary. The synthesis and total structural determination of the largest all-alkynyl-protected gold nanocluster (Ph4P)6[Au156(C≡CR)60] (R = 4-CF3C6H4-) (Au156) are reported. It presents an ideal platform for studying the relationship between the structure and the metallic nature. Au156 has a rod shape with the length and width of the kernel being 2.38 and 2.04 nm, respectively. The cluster contains a concentric Au126 core structure (Au46@Au50@Au30) protected by 30 linear RC≡C-Au-C≡CR staple motifs. It is interesting that Au156 displays multiple excitonic peaks in the steady-state absorption spectrum (molecular) and pump-power-dependent excited-state dynamics as revealed in the transient absorption spectrum (metallic), which indicates that Au156 is a critical crossover cluster for the transition from molecular to metallic state. Au156 is the smallest-sized gold nanocluster showing metal-like electron dynamics, and it is recognized that the cluster shape is one of the important factors determining the molecular or metallic nature of a gold nanocluster.

Ultrafast photophysical process of bi-exciton Auger recombination in CuInS2 quantum dots studied by transient-absorption spectroscopy.

Auger recombination is an ultrafast and unnegligible photophysical process in colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) due to competition with charge separation or radiative recombination processes, pivotal for their applications ranging from bio-labeling, light-emitting diodes, QD lasing to solar energy conversion. Among diverse QDs, ternary chalcopyrite is recently receiving significant attention for its heavy-metal free property and remarkable optical performance. Given deficient understanding of the Auger process for ternary chalcopyrite QDs, CuInS2 QDs with various sizes are synthesized as a representative and the bi-exciton lifetime (τBX) is derived by virtue of ultrafast time resolved absorption spectrum. The trend of τBX varying with size is consistent with the universal scaling of τBX versus QD volume (V): τBX = γV. The scaling factor γ is 6.6 ± 0.5 ps·nm-3 for CuInS2 QDs, and the bi-exciton Auger lifetime is 4-5 times slower than typical CdSe QDs with the same volume, suggesting reduced Auger recombination rate in ternary chalcopyrite. This work facilitates clearer understanding of Auger process and provides further insight for rational design of light-harvesting and emitting devices based on ternary chalcopyrite QDs.

Enhancing the quality of self-organized nanoripples by Ar-ion bombardment of a bilayer system.

Ion bombardment (IB) is a promising nanofabrication technique for producing nanoripples. A critical issue that restricts the application of IB is the limited quality of IB-induced nanoripples. Photoresist (PR) and antireflection coating (ARC) are of technological relevance for lithographic exposure processes. Moreover, to improve the quality of IB-induced self-organized nanoripples, in this study, a PR/ARC bilayer was bombarded at an incidence angle of 50°. The surface normalized defect density and power spectral density, obtained via scanning atomic force microscopy, indicate the superiority of the PR/ARC bilayer nanoripples over those of single PR or ARC layers. The growth mechanism of the improved nanoripples, deciphered via the temporal evolution of the morphology, involves the following processes: (i) formation of a well-grown IB-induced nanoripple prepattern on the PR, (ii) transfer of nanoripples from the PR to the ARC, forming an initial ARC nanoripple morphology for subsequent IB, and (iii) conversion of the initial nonuniform ARC nanoripples into uniform nanoripples. In this unique method, the angle of ion-incidence should be chosen so that ripples form on both PR and ARC films. Overall, this method facilitates nanoripple improvement, including prepattern fabrication for guiding nanoripple growth and sustainable nanoripple development via a single IB. Thus, the unique method presented in this study can aid in advancing academic research and also has potential applications in the field of IB-induced nanoripples.

Total Structure Determination of the Largest Alkynyl-Protected fcc Gold Nanocluster Au110 and the Study on Its Ultrafast Excited-State Dynamics.

Great attention has been paid to nanoclusters having face-centered-cubic (fcc) metal kernels, because of the similarity of metal packing to that of bulk gold. So far, there is no precedent example of an all-alkynyl-protected fcc gold nanocluster with more than 100 gold atoms. We report the synthesis and total structure determination of an alkynyl-protected gold nanocluster [NEt3H]2[Au110(p-CF3C6H4C≡C)48] (Au110). It has an fcc Au86 kernel with 24 peripheral Au(C≡CR)2 staples. The Au86 kernel consists of six close packing layers in the pattern of Au6:Au16:Au21:Au21:Au16:Au6. Electronic absorption spectroscopy shows Au110 has a molecular-like discrete electronic structure, and transient absorption experiments reveal its nonmetallic nature.

Genetic polymorphisms in MMP 2, 3, 7, and 9 genes and the susceptibility and clinical outcome of cervical cancer in a Chinese Han population.

Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes that contribute to all stages of tumor progression, including the invasion and metastasis. However, there are no data about the role of MMP polymorphism in the development of cervical cancer. A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in 230 patients with cervical cancer and 230 healthy controls to investigate the possible association between the MMP2 rs243865, MMP3 rs3025058, MMP7 rs11568818, and MMP9 rs3918242 polymorphisms, respectively, and the risk of cervical cancer. Our results suggested that the MMP2 rs243865-1306 C/T was significantly associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer (CT vs. CC, OR = 1.46; 95 % CI 1.18-3.55; P = 0.032; TT vs. CC, OR = 1.72; 95 % CI 1.28-4.02; P = 0.031; CT + TT vs. CC, OR = 1.43; 95 % CI 1.21-3.44; P = 0.029). Similarly, the MMP7 rs11568818-181A/G genotypes can also elevate the risk of cervical cancer in all genetic models. However, the genotype and allele frequencies of MMP3 rs3025058 and MMP9 rs3918242 polymorphisms in cervical cancer patients were not significantly different from controls. Further analysis showed MMP2 rs243865 and MMP7 rs11568818 genotypes were associated with advanced tumor stages of cervical cancer patients. More interestingly, the MMP2 rs243865 and MMP7 rs11568818 genotype was statistically significantly associated with a poor survival in cervical cancer patients. Our results showed that the MMP2 rs243865 and MMP7 rs11568818 genotypes e were associated with increased susceptibility and development of cervical cancer in Chinese Han population.

Zerumbone protects INS-1 rat pancreatic beta cells from high glucose-induced apoptosis through generation of reactive oxygen species.

The aim of this study is to explore the effect of zerumbone, a natural sesquiterpene isolated from Zingiber zerumbet Smith, on high glucose-induced cytotoxicity in pancreatic ß cells. INS-1 rat pancreatic ß cells were treated with 33 mM glucose with or without different concentrations of zerumbone and cell viability and apoptosis were assessed. The involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in the action of zerumbone was examined. Notably, zerumbone significantly (P < 0.05) prevented the reduction of cell viability induced by high glucose. Such protection was in a concentration-dependent fashion up to 60 µM of zerumbone. Annexin-V/propidium iodide staining analysis showed that zerumbone impaired the apoptotic response of high glucose-treated INS-1 cells, which was coupled with a significant decline in cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9. Pretreatment with the ROS inhibitor N-acetylcysteine abrogated the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK induced by high glucose. Zerumbone significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the generation of ROS and the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK MAPKs in high glucose-treated INS-1 cells. Pharmacological activation of p38 and JNK with anisomycin reversed the anti-apoptotic effect of zerumbone. Additionally, simultaneous inhibition of p38 and JNK significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the apoptotic response in high glucose-treated INS-1 cells. In conclusion, zerumbone confers protection against high glucose-induced apoptosis of INS-1 pancreatic ß cells, largely through interfering with ROS production and p38 and JNK activation. Zerumbone may have potential therapeutic effects against hyperglycemia-induced ß cell damage in diabetes.

The Impact of Weight Cycling on Health and Obesity.

Obesity is a systemic and chronic inflammation, which seriously endangers people's health. People tend to diet to control weight, and the short-term effect of dieting in losing weight is significant, but the prognosis is limited. With weight loss and recovery occurring frequently, people focus on weight cycling. The effect of weight cycling on a certain tissue of the body also has different conclusions. Therefore, this article systematically reviews the effects of body weight cycling on the body and finds that multiple weight cycling (1) increased fat deposition in central areas, lean mass decreased in weight loss period, and fat mass increased in weight recovery period, which harms body composition and skeletal muscle mass; (2) enhanced the inflammatory response of adipose tissue, macrophages infiltrated into adipose tissue, and increased the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in adipocytes; (3) blood glucose concentration mutation and hyperinsulinemia caused the increase or decrease in pancreatic ß-cell population, which makes ß-cell fatigue and leads to ß-cell failure; (4) resulted in additional burden on the cardiovascular system because of cardiovascular rick escalation. Physical activity combined with calorie restriction can effectively reduce metabolic disease and chronic inflammation, alleviating the adverse effects of weight cycling on the body.

A new strategy for overcoming drug resistance in liver cancer: Epigenetic regulation.

Drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma has posed significant obstacles to effective treatment. Recent evidence indicates that, in addition to traditional gene mutations, epigenetic recoding plays a crucial role in HCC drug resistance. Unlike irreversible gene mutations, epigenetic changes are reversible, offering a promising avenue for preventing and overcoming drug resistance in liver cancer. This review focuses on various epigenetic modifications relevant to drug resistance in HCC and their underlying mechanisms. Additionally, we introduce current clinical epigenetic drugs and clinical trials of these drugs as regulators of drug resistance in other solid tumors. Although there is no clinical study to prevent the occurrence of drug resistance in liver cancer, the development of liquid biopsy and other technologies has provided a bridge to achieve this goal.

Unraveling the efficacy network: A network meta-analysis of adjuvant external beam radiation therapy methods after hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Primary liver cancer is a malignant tumor with a high recurrence rate that significantly affects patient prognosis. Postoperative adjuvant external radiation therapy (RT) has been shown to effectively prevent recurrence after liver cancer resection. However, there are multiple RT techniques available, and the differential effects of these techniques in preventing postoperative liver cancer recurrence require further investigation. AIM: To assess the advantages and disadvantages of various adjuvant external RT methods after liver resection based on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) and to determine the optimal strategy. METHODS: This study involved network meta-analyses and followed the PRISMA guidelines. The data of qualified studies published before July 10, 2023, were collected from PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. We included relevant studies on postoperative external beam RT after liver resection that had OS and DFS as the primary endpoints. The magnitudes of the effects were determined using risk ratios with 95% confidential intervals. The results were analyzed using R software and STATA software. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies, including 1265 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver resection, were included in this study. There was no significant heterogeneity in the direct paired comparisons, and there were no significant differences in the inclusion or exclusion criteria, intervention measures, or outcome indicators, meeting the assumptions of heterogeneity and transitivity. OS analysis revealed that patients who underwent stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) after resection had longer OS than those who underwent intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) or 3-dimensional conformal RT (3D-CRT). DFS analysis revealed that patients who underwent 3D-CRT after resection had the longest DFS. Patients who underwent IMRT after resection had longer OS than those who underwent 3D-CRT and longer DFS than those who underwent SBRT. CONCLUSION: HCC patients who undergo liver cancer resection must consider distinct advantages and disadvantages when choosing between SBRT and 3D-CRT. IMRT, a RT technique that is associated with longer OS than 3D-CRT and longer DFS than SBRT, may be a preferred option.

Controlled NiOx Defect Engineering to Harnessing Redox Reactions in Perovskite Photovoltaic Cells via Atomic Layer Deposition.

Albeit the undesirable attributes of NiOx, such as low conductivity, unmanageable defects, and redox reactions occurring at the perovskite/NiOx interface, which impede the progress in inverted perovskite solar cells (i-PSCs), it is the most favorable choice of technology for industrialization of PSCs. In this study, we propose a novel Ni vacancy defect modulate approach to leverage the conformal growth and surface self-limiting reaction characteristics of the atomic layer deposition (ALD)-fabricated NiOx by varying the O2 plasma injection time (tOE) to induce self-doping. Consequently, NiOx thin films with enhanced conductivity, an appropriate Ni3+/Ni2+ ratio, stable surface states, and ultrathinness are realized as hole-transporting layers (HTLs) in p-i-n PSCs. As a result of these improvements, ALD-NiOx-based devices exhibit the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.86% and a fill factor (FF) of 81.86%. Notably, the optimal interfacial defects effectively suppressed the severe reaction between the perovskite and NiOx. This suppression is evidenced by the lowest decay rate observed in a harsh environment, lasting for 500 consecutive hours. The proposed approach introduces the possibility of a hierarchical distribution of defects and offers feasibility for the fabrication of large-area, uniform, and high-quality films.

Lnc-ZEB2-19 Inhibits the Progression and Lenvatinib Resistance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Attenuating the NF-κB Signaling Pathway through the TRA2A/RSPH14 Axis.

Long non-coding RNAs have been reported to play a crucial role in tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Lnc-ZEB2-19 has been validated to be deficiently expressed in HCC. However, the capabilities and underlying mechanisms of lnc-ZEB2-19 remain uncertain. In this study, we verified that the downregulation of lnc-ZEB2-19 was prevalent in HCC and significantly correlated with the unfavorable prognosis. Further in vitro and in vivo verified that lnc-ZEB2-19 notably inhibited the proliferation, metastasis, stemness, and lenvatinib resistance (LR) of HCC cells. Mechanistically, lnc-ZEB2-19 inhibited HCC progression and LR by specifically binding to transformer 2α (TRA2A) and promoting its degradation, which resulted in the instability of RSPH14 mRNA, leading to the downregulation of Rela(p65) and p-Rela(p-p65). Furthermore, rescue assays showed that silencing RSPH14 partially restrained the effect of knockdown expression of lnc-ZEB2-19 on HCC cell metastatic ability and stemness. The findings describe a novel regulatory axis, lnc-ZEB2-19/TRA2A/RSPH14, downregulating the nuclear factor kappa B to inhibit HCC progression and LR.