Multi-System-Level Analysis with RNA-Seq on Pterygium Inflammation Discovers Association between Inflammatory Responses, Oxidative Stress, and Oxidative Phosphorylation.

A pterygium is a common conjunctival degeneration and inflammatory condition. It grows onto the corneal surface or limbus, causing blurred vision and cosmetic issues. Ultraviolet is a well-known risk factor for the development of a pterygium, although its pathogenesis remains unclear, with only limited understanding of its hereditary basis. In this study, we collected RNA-seq from both pterygial tissues and conjunctival tissues (as controls) from six patients (a total of twelve biological samples) and retrieved publicly available data, including eight pterygium samples and eight controls. We investigated the intrinsic gene regulatory mechanisms closely linked to the inflammatory reactions of pterygiums and compared Asian (Korea) and the European (Germany) pterygiums using multiple analysis approaches from different perspectives. The increased expression of antioxidant genes in response to oxidative stress and DNA damage implies an association between these factors and pterygium development. Also, our comparative analysis revealed both similarities and differences between Asian and European pterygiums. The decrease in gene expressions involved in the three primary inflammatory signaling pathways-JAK/STAT, MAPK, and NF-kappa B signaling-suggests a connection between pathway dysfunction and pterygium development. We also observed relatively higher activity of autophagy and antioxidants in the Asian group, while the European group exhibited more pronounced stress responses against oxidative stress. These differences could potentially be necessitated by energy-associated pathways, specifically oxidative phosphorylation.

Alteration of multilayer network perspective on gray and white matter connectivity in obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE: The objective of this research was to examine changes in the neural networks of both gray and white matter in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in comparison to those without the condition, employing a comprehensive multilayer network analysis. METHODS: Patients meeting the criteria for OSA were recruited through polysomnography, while a control group of healthy individuals matched for age and sex was also assembled. Utilizing T1-weighted imaging, a morphometric similarity network was crafted to represent gray matter, while diffusion tensor imaging provided structural connectivity for constructing a white matter network. A multilayer network analysis was then performed, employing graph theory methodologies. RESULTS: We included 40 individuals diagnosed with OSA and 40 healthy participants in our study. Analysis revealed significant differences in various global network metrics between the two groups. Specifically, patients with OSA exhibited higher average degree overlap and average multilayer clustering coefficient (28.081 vs. 23.407, p < 0.001; 0.459 vs. 0.412, p = 0.004), but lower multilayer modularity (0.150 vs. 0.175, p = 0.001) compared to healthy controls. However, no significant differences were observed in average multiplex participation, average overlapping strength, or average weighted multiplex participation between the patients with OSA and healthy controls. Moreover, several brain regions displayed notable differences in degree overlap at the nodal level between patients with OSA and healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Remarkable alterations in the multilayer network, indicating shifts in both gray and white matter, were detected in patients with OSA in contrast to their healthy counterparts. Further examination at the nodal level unveiled notable changes in regions associated with cognition, underscoring the effectiveness of multilayer network analysis in exploring interactions across brain layers.

Potential predictive value of IVIM MR for xerostomia in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Xerostomia, caused by radiation-induced parotid damage, is the most commonly reported radiotherapy (RT) complication for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MR in monitoring radiation-induced parotid gland damage and predicting the risk of xerostomia. METHODS: Fifty-four NPC patients were enrolled and underwent at least three IVIM MR scans: before (pre-RT), after 5 fractions of (5th-RT), halfway through (mid-RT), and after RT (post-RT). The degree of xerostomia patients was assessed before each MR examination. Furthermore, the time when patients first reported xerostomia symptoms was recorded. The changes in IVIM parameters throughout RT, as well as the relationships between IVIM parameters and xerostomia, were analysed. RESULT: All IVIM parameters increased significantly from pre-RT to post-RT (p < 0.001). The rates of D, D* and f increase increased significantly from pre-RT to mid-RT (p < 0.001), indicating that cell necrosis mainly occurs in the first half of RT. In multivariate analysis, N3 (p = 0.014), pre-D (p = 0.007) and pre-D* (p = 0.003) were independent factors influencing xerostomia. D and f were significantly higher at 5th-RT than at pre-RT (both p < 0.05). IVIM detected parotid gland injury at 5th-RT at an average scanning time of 6.18 ±â€¯1.07 days, earlier than the 11.94 ±â€¯2.61 days when the patient first complained of xerostomia according to the RTOG scale (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: IVIM MR can dynamically monitor radiation-induced parotid gland damage and assess it earlier and more objectively than RTOG toxicity. Moreover, IVIM can screen people at risk of more severe xerostomia early.

Case report: Small bowel obstruction secondary to congenital transmesenteric internal hernia in a cat.

An 8-month-old castrated male British Shorthair cat presented with acute anorexia and vomiting. The overall clinical presentation included generalized depression. Physical examination revealed palpable abdominal mass, thus foreign body or intussusception was suspected. Abdominal radiographs showed segmental dilation of small intestine and ultrasonography revealed target lesion with dilated small bowel loops and disrupted normal wall layering, suggestive of intussusception. Exploratory laparotomy confirmed congenital mesenteric defects associated with small intestinal obstruction. Surgical intervention involved dissection, ligation of encircling blood vessels, and closure of mesenteric defects. The cat was discharged after 3 days, exhibiting normal postoperative recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of congenital mesenteric defect associated with small intestinal obstruction in a cat. While internal hernias are rare, it is essential to include them in the differential diagnosis for cases of intestinal obstruction, particularly in patients with no history of previous surgery or trauma. The potential for strangulation and ischemia in the affected loops elevates internal hernias to a critical, life-threatening condition, emphasizing the need for prompt recognition and urgent surgical intervention as an emergency.

Eosinophilia is a favorable marker for pneumonia in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) expressing eosinophilia experience slightly fewer episodes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) than those without eosinophilia. However, the severity and burden of hospitalized pneumonia patients with COPD concerning eosinophilia have not been assessed. Methods: We evaluated the differences in clinical characteristics between patients with CAP and COPD with or without eosinophilia by a post-hoc analysis of a prospective, multi-center, cohort study data. Results: Of 349 CAP patients with COPD, 45 (12.9%) had eosinophilia (blood eosinophil ≥ 300 cells/µL). Patients with eosinophilia had a lower sputum culture percentile (8.1% vs. 23.4%, P < 0.05), a lower percentile of neutrophils (70.3% vs 80.2%, P<0.05), reduced C-reactive protein levels (30.6 mg/L vs 86.6 mg/L, P<0.05), and a lower pneumonia severity index score (82.5 vs. 90.0, P < 0.05) than those without eosinophilia. The duration of antibiotic treatment (8.0 days vs. 10.0 days, P < 0.05) and hospitalization (7.0 days vs. 9.0 days, P < 0.05) were shorter in eosinophilic patients. The cost of medical care per day (256.4 US$ vs. 291.0 US$, P < 0.05), cost for the medication (276.4 US$ vs. 349.9 US$, P < 0.05), and cost for examination (685.5 US$ vs 958.1 US$, P<0.05) were lower in patients with eosinophilia than those without eosinophilia. Conclusion: Eosinophilia serves as a favorable marker for severity of pneumonia, health-care consumption, and cost of medical care in patients with CAP and COPD.

Ventral Anterior Cingulate Atrophy as a Predisposing Factor for Transient Global Amnesia.

Background and Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with acute transient global amnesia (TGA) using volumetric analysis to verify whether the brains of TGA patients have pre-existing structural abnormalities. Methods: We evaluated the brain MRI data from 87 TGA patients and 20 age- and sex-matched control subjects. We included brain MRIs obtained from TGA patients within 72 hours of symptom onset to verify the pre-existence of structural change. For voxel-based morphometric analyses, statistical parametric mapping was employed to analyze the structural differences between patients with TGA and control subjects. Results: TGA patients exhibited significant volume reductions in the bilateral ventral anterior cingulate cortices (corrected p<0.05). Conclusions: TGA patients might have pre-existing structural changes in bilateral ventral anterior cingulate cortices prior to TGA attacks.

Adjunctive recombinant human parathyroid hormone agents for the treatment of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: a report of three cases.

Teriparatide has been effective in treating people diagnosed with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). However, its efficacy is not well established to be accepted as a standard of care. The objective of this paper was to investigate the efficacy of recombinant human parathyroid hormone for the treatment of MRONJ. We report three cases of MRONJ patients with osteoporosis as the primary disease who were treated with a teriparatide agent along with other adjunctive measures. Each patient was administered a teriparatide injection subcutaneously for 16 weeks, 36 weeks, or 60 weeks. Surgical intervention including partial resection, sequestrectomy, decortication, and saucerization took place during the teriparatide administration. Complete lesion resolution was identified clinically and radiographically in all three patients. In patients diagnosed with MRONJ, teriparatide therapy is an efficacious and safe therapeutic option to improve healing of bone lesions. These findings demonstrate that teriparatide in combination with another therapy, especially bone morphogenetic protein, platelet-rich fibrin, or antibiotic therapy, can be an effective protocol for MRONJ.

Hydrogen bonding bolstered head-to-tail ligation of functional chromophores in a 0D SbF3·glycine adduct for a short-wave ultraviolet nonlinear optical material.

The key properties of nonlinear optical (NLO) materials highly rely on the quality of functional chromophores (FCs) and their optimized interarrangement in the lattice. Despite the screening of various FCs, significant challenges persist in optimizing their arrangement within specific structures. Generally, FC alignment is achieved by designing negatively charged 2D layers or 3D frameworks, further regulated by templating cations. In this study, a novel 0D adduct NLO material, SbF3·glycine, is reported. Neutrally charged 0D [SbF3C2H5NO2] FCs, comprising [SbF3] pyramids and zwitterionic glycine, are well-aligned in the structure. The alignment is facilitated by the hydrogen bonding, reinforcing a 'head-to-tail' ligation of [SbF3C2H5NO2] FCs. Consequently, the title compound exhibits favorable NLO properties, including a large second-harmonic generation efficiency (3.6 × KDP) and suitable birefringence (cal. 0.057 @ 1064 nm). Additionally, its short absorption cut-off edge (231 nm) positions it as a promising short-wave ultraviolet NLO material. Importantly, the binary SbF3-amino acid system is expected to serve as a new resource for exploring ultraviolet NLO crystals, owing to the abundance of the amino acid family.

Structural connectivity as a predictive factor for perampanel response in patients with epilepsy.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify clinical characteristics that could predict the response to perampanel (PER) and determine whether structural connectivity is a predictive factor. METHODS: We enrolled patients with epilepsy who received PER and were followed-up for a minimum of 12 months. Good PER responders, who were seizure-free or presented with more than 50 % seizure reduction, were classified separately from poor PER responders who had seizure reduction of less than 50 % or non-responders. A graph theoretical analysis was conducted based on diffusion tensor imaging to calculate network measures of structural connectivity among patients with epilepsy. RESULTS: 106 patients with epilepsy were enrolled, including 26 good PER responders and 80 poor PER responders. Good PER responders used fewer anti-seizure medications before PER administration compared to those by poor PER responders (3 vs. 4; p = 0.042). Early PER treatment was more common in good PER responders than poor PER responders (46.2 vs. 21.3 %, p = 0.014). Regarding cortical structural connectivity, the global efficiency was higher and characteristic path length was lower in good PER responders than in poor PER responders (0.647 vs. 0.635, p = 0.006; 1.726 vs. 1,759, p = 0.008, respectively). For subcortical structural connectivity, the mean clustering coefficient and small-worldness index were higher in good PER responders than in poor PER responders (0.821 vs. 0.791, p = 0.009; 0.597 vs. 0.560, p = 0.009, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that early PER administration can predict a good PER response in patients with epilepsy, and structural connectivity could potentially offer clinical utility in predicting PER response.

Sodium alginate/carboxycellulose/polydopamine composite microspheres for rapid hemostasis of deep irregular wounds.

Hemostasis of deep irregular wounds is a severe problem in clinical practice. The development of rapid-acting hemostatic agents for deep and irregular wound is urgently needed. Here, sodium alginate/carboxycellulose/polydopamine (SA/CNF/PDA) microspheres was prepared by reverse emulsification and crosslinking with Ca2+, and SA/CNF/PDA composite hemostatic microspheres with porous structure were obtained by freeze-drying. SA/CNF/PDA composite hemostatic microspheres exhibited excellent porosity and water absorption which could rapidly absorb blood on the wound surface. Moreover, SA/CNF/PDA composite microspheres demonstrated remarkable hemostatic capabilities both in vitro and in vivo. It exhibited strong hemostatic performance in models of mouse tail-break and liver damage. Especially in liver injury model, it was completely hemostatic in 95 s, and blood loss (19.3 mg). The hemostatic efficacy of the SA/CNF/PDA composite microspheres was amplified through the stimulation of both exogenous and endogenous coagulation pathways. Therefore, SA/CNF/PDA composite hemostatic microspheres are suitable for rapid hemostasis of deep irregular wounds which are potential rapid hemostatic material for surgical application.

Machine learning-based identification of a consensus immune-derived gene signature to improve head and neck squamous cell carcinoma therapy and outcome.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), an extremely aggressive tumor, is often associated with poor outcomes. The standard anatomy-based tumor-node-metastasis staging system does not satisfy the requirements for screening treatment-sensitive patients. Thus, an ideal biomarker leading to precise screening and treatment of HNSCC is urgently needed. Methods: Ten machine learning algorithms-Lasso, Ridge, stepwise Cox, CoxBoost, elastic network (Enet), partial least squares regression for Cox (plsRcox), random survival forest (RSF), generalized boosted regression modelling (GBM), supervised principal components (SuperPC), and survival support vector machine (survival-SVM)-as well as 85 algorithm combinations were applied to construct and identify a consensus immune-derived gene signature (CIDGS). Results: Based on the expression profiles of three cohorts comprising 719 patients with HNSCC, we identified 236 consensus prognostic genes, which were then filtered into a CIDGS, using the 10 machine learning algorithms and 85 algorithm combinations. The results of a study involving a training cohort, two testing cohorts, and a meta-cohort consistently demonstrated that CIDGS was capable of accurately predicting prognoses for HNSCC. Incorporation of several core clinical features and 51 previously reported signatures, enhanced the predictive capacity of the CIDGS to a level which was markedly superior to that of other signatures. Notably, patients with low CIDGS displayed fewer genomic alterations and higher immune cell infiltrate levels, as well as increased sensitivity to immunotherapy and other therapeutic agents, in addition to receiving better prognoses. The survival times of HNSCC patients with high CIDGS, in particular, were shorter. Moreover, CIDGS enabled accurate stratification of the response to immunotherapy and prognoses for bladder cancer. Niclosamide and ruxolitinib showed potential as therapeutic agents in HNSCC patients with high CIDGS. Conclusion: CIDGS may be used for stratifying risks as well as for predicting the outcome of patients with HNSCC in a clinical setting.

Antimicrobial activity of ceftazidime-avibactam against KPC-2-producing Enterobacterales: a cross-combination and dose-escalation titration study with relebactam and vaborbactam.

With the introduction of ceftazidime-avibactam worldwide, the antimicrobial activity of new ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitors (BL/BLIs) needs to be investigated. From January 2020 to June 2023, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacterales were collected. With a broth microdilution test of new BL/BLIs, cross-activity test with nine combinations of BLs and new BLIs and dose-escalation titration test for non-susceptible isolates were conducted to investigate inhibitory activities of new BLIs. A total of 188 isolates was collected and most isolates (186/188, 98.9%) carried the KPC-2 gene exclusively, while two isolates (1.1%) co-harbored NDM-1. Among the 186 KPC-2-producing isolates, 184 (98.9%) were susceptible to ceftazidime-avibactam, 173 (93.0%) to imipenem-relebactam, and 184 (98.9%) to meropenem-vaborbactam. All isolates non-susceptible to imipenem-relebactam or meropenem-vaborbactam became susceptible when avibactam replaced relebactam or vaborbactam, with 7 of 11 (63.6%) imipenem-relebactam non-susceptible isolates and both (100.0%) of the meropenem-vaborbactam non-susceptible isolates. When the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of BLs were compared using log2 scales, combinations with avibactam showed statistically significant efficacy in lowering MICs compared to relebactam and vaborbactam (all P < 0.05). In the dose-escalation test of new BLIs, increasing dose of all new BLIs corresponded to increased susceptibility to BLs. Ceftazidime-avibactam exhibited excellent susceptibility against KPC-2-producing Enterobacterales unless co-harboring metallo-ß-lactamase. The cross-combination test against non-susceptible isolates suggests that the inhibitory activity of avibactam was superior to those of relebactam or vaborbactam. Increasing the dose of new BLIs produced increased susceptibility to BLs, suggesting that high-concentration regimen need to be developed. IMPORTANCE: This study investigated 188 Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-2-producing Enterobacterales collected from January 2020 to June 2023 in a tertiary care hospital of Korea. Most isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime-avibactam (98.9%) and meropenem-vaborbactam (98.9%), while susceptibility to imipenem-relebactam was lower (93.0%). The cross-combination test using nine combinations of the individual ß-lactams (BLs) and new ß-lactamase inhibitors (BLIs) showed that the inhibitory activity of avibactam was significantly superior to relebactam or vaborbactam when the Log2 MIC of BLs were compared for each combination with BLIs (all P < 0.05). The dose-escalation test of new BLIs demonstrated that increasing doses of new BLIs corresponded to increased susceptibility to BLs. Taken together, this study illustrates the excellent activity of ceftazidime-avibactam against KPC-2-producing Enterobacterales and suggests further investigation into high-concentration regimens for potentially non-susceptible clinical isolates.

Functional Connectivity Alterations in Patients with Post-stroke Epilepsy Based on Source-level EEG and Graph Theory.

We investigated the differences in functional connectivity based on the source-level electroencephalography (EEG) analysis between stroke patients with and without post-stroke epilepsy (PSE). Thirty stroke patients with PSE and 35 stroke patients without PSE were enrolled. EEG was conducted during a resting state period. We used a Brainstorm program for source estimation and the connectivity matrix. Data were processed according to EEG frequency bands. We used a BRAPH program to apply a graph theoretical analysis. In the beta band, radius and diameter were increased in patients with PSE than in those without PSE (2.699 vs. 2.579, adjusted p = 0.03; 2.261 vs. 2.171, adjusted p = 0.03). In the low gamma band, radius was increased in patients with PSE than in those without PSE (2.808 vs. 2.617, adjusted p = 0.03). In the high gamma band, the radius, diameter, average eccentricity, and characteristic path length were increased (1.828 vs. 1.559, adjusted p < 0.01; 2.653 vs. 2.306, adjusted p = 0.01; 2.212 vs. 1.913, adjusted p < 0.01; 1.425 vs. 1.286, adjusted p = 0.01), whereas average strength, mean clustering coefficient, and transitivity were decreased in patients with PSE than in those without PSE (49.955 vs. 55.055, adjusted p < 0.01; 0.727 vs. 0.810, adjusted p < 0.01; 1.091 vs. 1.215, adjusted p < 0.01). However, in the delta, theta, and alpha bands, none of the functional connectivity measures were different between groups. We demonstrated significant alterations of functional connectivity in patients with PSE, who have decreased segregation and integration in brain network, compared to those without PSE.

DRSPRING: Graph convolutional network (GCN)-Based drug synergy prediction utilizing drug-induced gene expression profile.

Great efforts have been made over the years to identify novel drug pairs with synergistic effects. Although numerous computational approaches have been proposed to analyze diverse types of biological big data, the pharmacogenomic profiles, presumably the most direct proxy of drug effects, have been rarely used due to the data sparsity problem. In this study, we developed a composite deep-learning-based model that predicts the drug synergy effect utilizing pharmacogenomic profiles as well as molecular properties. Graph convolutional network (GCN) was used to represent and integrate the chemical structure, genetic interactions, drug-target information, and gene expression profiles of cell lines. Insufficient amount of pharmacogenomic data, i.e., drug-induced expression profiles from the LINCS project, was resolved by augmenting the data with the predicted profiles. Our method learned and predicted the Loewe synergy score in the DrugComb database and achieved a better or comparable performance compared to other published methods in a benchmark test. We also investigated contribution of various input features, which highlighted the value of basal gene expression and pharmacogenomic profiles of each cell line. Importantly, DRSPRING (DRug Synergy PRediction by INtegrated GCN) can be applied to any drug pairs and any cell lines, greatly expanding its applicability compared to previous methods.

Integrated analysis of metabolome, transcriptome, and bioclimatic factors of Acer truncatum seeds reveals key candidate genes related to unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and potentially optimal production area.

BACKGROUND: Lipids found in plant seeds are essential for controlling seed dormancy, dispersal, and defenses against biotic and abiotic stress. Additionally, these lipids provide nutrition and energy and are therefore important to the human diet as edible oils. Acer truncatum, which belongs to the Aceaceae family, is widely cultivated around the world for its ornamental value. Further because its seed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs)- i.e. α-linolenic acid (ALA) and nervonic acid (NA)- and because it has been validated as a new food resource in China, the importance of A. truncatum has greatly risen. However, it remains unknown how UFAs are biosynthesized during the growth season, to what extent environmental factors impact their content, and what areas are potentially optimal for their production. RESULTS: In this study, transcriptome and metabolome of A. truncatum seeds at three representative developmental stages was used to find the accumulation patterns of all major FAs. Cumulatively, 966 metabolites and 87,343 unigenes were detected; the differential expressed unigenes and metabolites were compared between stages as follows: stage 1 vs. 2, stage 1 vs. 3, and stage 2 vs. 3 seeds, respectively. Moreover, 13 fatty acid desaturases (FADs) and 20 ß-ketoacyl-CoA synthases (KCSs) were identified, among which the expression level of FAD3 (Cluster-7222.41455) and KCS20 (Cluster-7222.40643) were consistent with the metabolic results of ALA and NA, respectively. Upon analysis of the geographical origin-affected diversity from 17 various locations, we found significant variation in phenotypes and UFA content. Notably, in this study we found that 7 bioclimatic variables showed considerable influence on FAs contents in A. truncatum seeds oil, suggesting their significance as critical environmental parameters. Ultimately, we developed a model for potentially ecological suitable regions in China. CONCLUSION: This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between metabolome and transcriptome in A. truncatum at various developmental stages of seeds and a new strategy to enhance seed FA content, especially ALA and NA. This is particularly significant in meeting the increasing demands for high-quality edible oil for human consumption. The study offers a scientific basis for A. truncatum's novel utilization as a woody vegetable oil rather than an ornamental plant, potentially expanding its cultivation worldwide.

Stabilization of galactose oxidase by high hydrostatic pressure: Insights on the role of cavities size.

High hydrostatic pressure stabilized galactose oxidase (GaOx) at 70.0-80.0°C against thermal inactivation. The pseudo-first-order rate constant of inactivation kinact decreased by a factor of 8 at 80°C and by a factor of 44 at 72.5°C. The most pronounced effect of pressure was at the lowest studied temperature of 70.0°C with an activation volume of inactivation ΔV‡ of 78.8 cm3 mol-1. The optimal pressure against thermal inactivation was between 200 and 300 MPa. Unlike other enzymes, as temperature increased the ΔV‡ of inactivation decreased, and as pressure increased the activation energy of inactivation Eai increased. Combining the results for GaOx with earlier research on the pressure-induced stabilization of other enzymes suggests that ΔV‡ of inactivation correlates with the total molar volume of cavities larger than ~100 Å3 in enzyme monomers for enzymes near the optimal pH and whose thermal unfolding is not accompanied by oligomer dissociation.

Enhancing Li-Ion Battery Anodes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemical Performance of Crystalline C60 Nanorods with Controlled Morphology and Phase Transition.

Recently, C60 has emerged as a promising anode material for Li-ion batteries, attracting significant interest due to its excellent lithium storage capacity. The electrochemical performance of C60 as an anode is largely dependent on its internal crystal structure, which is significantly influenced by the synthesis method and corresponding conditions. However, there have been few reports on how the synthesis process affects the crystal structure and Li+ storage capacity of C60. This study used the liquid-liquid interface precipitation method and a low-temperature annealing process to fabricate one-dimensional C60 nanorods (NRs). We thoroughly investigated synthesis conditions, including the growth time, drying temperature, annealing time, and annealing atmosphere. The results demonstrate that these synthesis conditions directly impact the morphology, phase transition, and electrochemical efficiency of pure C60 NRs. Remarkably, the hexagonal close-packed structural C60 NRs-6012h, in a metastable form, exhibits a reversible Li+ storage capacity as an anode material in Li-ion batteries. Furthermore, the face-centered cubic C60 NRs-603001h electrode shows significantly enhanced rate performance and long-cycle stability. A discharge-specific capacity of 603 mAh g-1 was maintained after 2000 cycles at a current density of 2 A g-1. This study elucidates the effect of synthesis conditions on C60 crystals, offering an effective strategy for preparing high-performance C60 anode materials.

Precision-Engineered Medium-Sized Molecular Host and Emitter for Ensuring Consistent Performance in Solution-Processed Narrowband OLEDs.

In this study, two novel multiple resonance (MR) emitters, DtCzBN and Cy-DtCzBN, were designed based on the well-known BCzBN structure and synthesized for narrowband solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Cy-DtCzBN possesses a dimeric V-shaped structure formed by coupling two individual DtCzBN units via a nonconjugated cyclohexane linker. When compared with DtCzBN, Cy-DtCzBN, as a medium-sized molecule, was found to maintain the optical and photophysical properties of the corresponding monomeric unit, DtCzBN, but exhibits high thermal stability, excellent solubility, and good film-forming ability. Additionally, solution-processed OLEDs were fabricated by using two sets of molecules: one set of small molecular hosts and emitters (i.e., mCP and DtCzBN) and the other set of medium-sized molecular hosts and emitters (i.e., Cy-mCP and Cy-DtCzBN). Notably, devices using medium-sized molecular hosts and emitters exhibited similar optical and photophysical properties but showed significantly improved reproducibility and thermal stability compared with those based on small molecular hosts and emitters. Our current study provides some insights into molecular design strategies for thermally stable hosts and emitters, which are highly suitable for solution-processed OLEDs.