Mpox patients' experience from infection to treatment and implications for prevention and control: A multicenter qualitative study in China.

Monkeypox (mpox), a viral zoonotic disease, is spreading worldwide. However, evidence that informs prevention and control strategies in the Asia Pacific Region is very limited. Our study aims to investigate the experiences of mpox patients from infection to treatment to provide scientific basis for the prevention and control. A multicenter qualitative design was used. A total of 15 mpox patients were recruited between July 6 and July 25, 2023, from six cities in China. Semistructured interviews were conducted by telephone and analyzed using the thematic analysis. The interview was divided into two sections: patients' experiences (prediagnosis experience, treatment-seeking experience, and quarantine experience) and advice. Prediagnosis experience was summarized into three themes: symptoms, possible routes of infection, and knowledge of mpox. Treatment-seeking experience was summarized into three themes: time of visit to hospital, diagnostic difficulties, and attitude toward diagnosis. Quarantine experience was summarized into three themes: body and mind reactions, reluctance to self-disclose infection status, and factors facilitating recovery. Themes identified from patients' advice were as follows: (1) Increase in testing channels and methods, (2) Development and introduction of vaccines, (3) Adjustment of quarantine program, (4) Improvement of treatment measures, and (5) Improvement of publicity and education. To effectively curb the mpox epidemic, structured measures are urgently needed to address the mpox-related stigma and discrimination. Targeted health education should be provided to MSM, focusing on the prevention, detection, and treatment services. Hospitals should enhance the training of clinicians in key departments including infectious disease and dermatology, to improve diagnostic capability and sensitivity. Furthermore, given the absence of specific antiviral medications, supervised home quarantine may be a good option.

Alkylammonium Halides for Phase Regulation and Luminescence Modulation of Cesium Copper Iodide Nanocrystals for Light-Emitting Diodes.

All-inorganic cesium copper halide nanocrystals have attracted extensive attention due to their cost-effectiveness, low toxicity, and rich luminescence properties. However, controlling the synthesis of these nanocrystals to achieve a precise composition and high luminous efficiency remains a challenge that limits their future application. Herein, we report the effect of oleylammonium iodide on the synthesis of copper halide nanocrystals to control the composition and phase and modulate their photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields (QYs). For CsCu2I3, the PL peak is centered at 560 nm with a PLQY of 47.3%, while the PL peak of Cs3Cu2I5 is located at 440 nm with an unprecedently high PLQY of 95.3%. Furthermore, the intermediate-state CsCu2I3/Cs3Cu2I5 heterostructure shows white light emission with a PLQY of 66.4%, chromaticity coordinates of (0.3176, 0.3306), a high color rendering index (CRI) of 90, and a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 6234 K, indicating that it is promising for single-component white-light-emitting applications. The nanocrystals reported in this study have excellent luminescence properties, low toxicity, and superior stability, so they are more suitable for future light-emitting applications.

Epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, and mental health status of human mpox cases: A multicenter cross-sectional study in China.

Human mpox is occurring worldwide, however, evidence from the Asian Pacific Region is limited. In this multicenter cross-sectional study, information of confirmed mpox cases diagnosed between June 1 and July 31, 2023 in China. Information included demographic and epidemiological characteristics, and clinical manifestations, laboratory results, and mental health status of mpox cases. A total of 115 confirmed mpox cases were enrolled. All cases were men. A total of 102 (90.3%) identified as homosexual. The median age was 31.0 years (interquartile range 27.0-36.5). A total of 65 (56.5%) were HIV-positive, of whom 92.3% were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). A total of 19/39 (40.4%) had a CD4 cell count <500 cells/µL. Systemic features such as fever (73.0%), lymphadenopathies (49.6%), and myalgia (28.7%) were commonly observed. Skin lesions were present in all participants: 49.6% in the genital area and 27.0% in the perianal area. Vesicular rash (78.3%) and papular rash (44.3%) were the most common lesion morphologies. People living with HIV were more likely to have anxiety than those living without HIV. The majority of mpox cases had primary genital lesions and sexual activities before diagnosis, which supports the likelihood of sexual contact transmission. Guidelines on hospitalization and isolation protocols for mpox patients necessitate further confirmation.

Synthesis of Efficient and Stable Tetrabutylammonium Copper Halides with Dual Emissions for Warm White Light-Emitting Diodes.

In order to achieve a high color-rendering index (CRI) and low correlated color temperature (CCT) indoor lighting, single-component phosphors with broad-band dual emission are in high demand for white-light-emitting diodes (WLEDs). However, phosphors with such fluorescent properties are rare at present. Herein, we report a facile solid-state chemical method for the synthesis of single-component phosphor with broad-band emission and a large Stokes shift that can meet the requirements of future white-light sources. These new tetrabutylammonium copper halides phosphors have excellent warm white emission characteristics, and their luminescence peaks are located at 494 and 654 nm. The optimized photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield can reach 93.7 %. The typical CIE coordinate of the as-fabricated WLED is at (0.3620, 0.3731) with a CRI of 89 and low CCT of 4516 K.

Two-dimensional overdamped fluctuations of the soft perovskite lattice in CsPbBr3.

Lead halide perovskites exhibit structural instabilities and large atomic fluctuations thought to impact their optical and thermal properties, yet detailed structural and temporal correlations of their atomic motions remain poorly understood. Here, these correlations are resolved in CsPbBr3 crystals using momentum-resolved neutron and X-ray scattering measurements as a function of temperature, complemented with first-principles simulations. We uncover a striking network of diffuse scattering rods, arising from the liquid-like damping of low-energy Br-dominated phonons, reproduced in our simulations of the anharmonic phonon self-energy. These overdamped modes cover a continuum of wave vectors along the edges of the cubic Brillouin zone, corresponding to two-dimensional sheets of correlated rotations in real space, and could represent precursors to proposed two-dimensional polarons. Further, these motions directly impact the electronic gap edge states, linking soft anharmonic lattice dynamics and optoelectronic properties. These results provide insights into the highly unusual atomic dynamics of halide perovskites, relevant to further optimization of their optical and thermal properties.

Weyl-mediated helical magnetism in NdAlSi.

Emergent relativistic quasiparticles in Weyl semimetals are the source of exotic electronic properties such as surface Fermi arcs, the anomalous Hall effect and negative magnetoresistance, all observed in real materials. Whereas these phenomena highlight the effect of Weyl fermions on the electronic transport properties, less is known about what collective phenomena they may support. Here, we report a Weyl semimetal, NdAlSi, that offers an example. Using neutron diffraction, we found a long-wavelength helical magnetic order in NdAlSi, the periodicity of which is linked to the nesting vector between two topologically non-trivial Fermi pockets, which we characterize using density functional theory and quantum oscillation measurements. We further show the chiral transverse component of the spin structure is promoted by bond-oriented Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions associated with Weyl exchange processes. Our work provides a rare example of Weyl fermions driving collective magnetism.

Strong quantum fluctuations in a quantum spin liquid candidate with a Co-based triangular lattice.

Currently under active study in condensed matter physics, both theoretically and experimentally, are quantum spin liquid (QSL) states, in which no long-range magnetic ordering appears at low temperatures due to strong quantum fluctuations of the magnetic moments. The existing QSL candidates all have their intrinsic disadvantages, however, and solid evidence for quantum fluctuations is scarce. Here, we report a previously unreported compound, [Formula: see text], a geometrically frustrated system with effective spin-1/2 local moments for Co2+ ions on an isotropic 2-dimensional (2D) triangular lattice. Magnetic susceptibility and neutron scattering experiments show no magnetic ordering down to 0.05 K. Thermodynamic measurements show that there is a tremendous amount of magnetic entropy present below 1 K in 0-applied magnetic field. The presence of localized low-energy spin fluctuations is revealed by inelastic neutron measurements. At low applied fields, these spin excitations are confined to low energy and contribute to the anomalously large specific heat. In larger applied fields, the system reverts to normal behavior as evident by both neutron and thermodynamic results. Our experimental characterization thus reveals that this material is an excellent candidate for the experimental realization of a QSL state.

Classical Spin Liquid or Extended Critical Range in h-YMnO_{3}?

Neutron spectroscopy on the classical triangular-lattice frustrated antiferromagnet h-YMnO_{3} reveals diffuse, gapless magnetic excitations present both far below and above the ordering temperature. The correlation length of the excitations increases as the temperature approaches zero, bearing a strong resemblance to critical scattering. We model the dynamics in the ordered and correlated disordered phase as critical spin correlations in a two-dimensional magnetic state. We propose that our findings may provide a general framework to understand features often attributed to classical spin liquids.

Understanding Reentrance in Frustrated Magnets: The Case of the Er_{2}Sn_{2}O_{7} Pyrochlore.

Reentrance, the return of a system from an ordered phase to a previously encountered less-ordered one as a controlled parameter is continuously varied, is a recurring theme found in disparate physical systems, yet its microscopic cause is often not investigated thoroughly. Here, through detailed characterization and theoretical modeling, we uncover the microscopic mechanism behind reentrance in the strongly frustrated pyrochlore antiferromagnet Er_{2}Sn_{2}O_{7}. We use single crystal heat capacity measurements to expose that Er_{2}Sn_{2}O_{7} exhibits multiple instances of reentrance in its magnetic field B vs temperature T phase diagram for magnetic fields along three cubic high symmetry directions. Through classical Monte Carlo simulations, mean field theory, and classical linear spin-wave expansions, we argue that the origins of the multiple occurrences of reentrance observed in Er_{2}Sn_{2}O_{7} are linked to soft modes. These soft modes arise from phase competition and enhance thermal fluctuations that entropically stabilize a specific ordered phase, resulting in an increased transition temperature for certain field values and thus the reentrant behavior. Our work represents a detailed examination into the mechanisms responsible for reentrance in a frustrated magnet and may serve as a template for the interpretation of reentrant phenomena in other physical systems.

Crystal structures and rotational dynamics of a two-dimensional metal halide perovskite (OA)2PbI4.

The extended charge carrier lifetime in metal halide perovskites is responsible for their excellent optoelectronic properties. Recent studies indicate that the superb device performance in these materials is intimately related to the organic cation dynamics. Here, we focus on the investigation of the two-dimensional hybrid perovskite, (C8H17NH3)2PbI4 (henceforth, OA+ = C8H17NH3 +). Using elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering techniques and group theoretical analysis, we studied the structural phase transitions and rotational modes of the C8H17NH3 + cation in (OA)2PbI4. Our results show that, in the high-temperature orthorhombic (T > 310 K) phase, the OA+ cation exhibits a combination of a twofold rotation of the NH3-CH2 head group about the crystal c-axis with a characteristic relaxation time of ∼6.2 ps, threefold rotations (C3) of NH3 and CH3 terminal groups, and slow librations of the other atoms. Contrastingly, only the C3 rotation is present in the intermediate-temperature orthorhombic (238 K < T < 310 K) and low-temperature monoclinic (T < 238 K) phases.

A Combination of the Mayo Adhesive Probability Score and the RENAL Score to Predict Intraoperative Complications in Small Renal Masses.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the potential predictive value of the Mayo Adhesive Probability (MAP) score combined with the RENAL score for intraoperative outcomes in retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) in an Eastern Asian population. METHODS: An initial of 388 patients undergoing retroperitoneal laparoscopic NSS were identified. MAP and RENAL scores were calculated according to CT and a logistic regression model was adopted as a combination of the RENAL score and the MAP score. RESULTS: A total of 293 patients were included. The overall intraoperative complication rate was 7.5% (21 cases). The MAP score was found to correlate with operation time (OT; r = 0.169), estimated blood loss (EBL; r = 0.318), and intraoperative complications (r = 0.242). The RENAL score was correlated with warm is-chemia time (r = 0.503), OT (r = 0.334), intraoperative complications (r = 0.178), and EBL (r = 0.218). The MAP score and the RENAL score were reliable predictors of overall intraoperative complications, with areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.728 and 0.759, respectively. After combination of these 2 scores, the AUC of overall intra-operative complications was improved with statistical significance (AUC = 0.847, combination vs. RENAL score: p = 0.044 < 0.05; combination vs. MAP score: p = 0.005 < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The MAP score is an important predictor of EBL, OT, and intraoperative complications in retroperitoneal laparoscopic NSS and its combination with the RENAL score showed a superior predictive value compared to a single score in overall intraoperative complications. The MAP score might be considered in preoperative radiologic aspects as regularly as the RENAL score.

Quantum Spin Ice Dynamics in the Dipole-Octupole Pyrochlore Magnet Ce_{2}Zr_{2}O_{7}.

Neutron scattering measurements on the pyrochlore magnet Ce_{2}Zr_{2}O_{7} reveal an unusual crystal field splitting of its lowest J=5/2 multiplet, such that its ground-state doublet is composed of m_{J}=±3/2, giving these doublets a dipole-octupole (DO) character with local Ising anisotropy. Its magnetic susceptibility shows weak antiferromagnetic correlations with θ_{CW}=-0.4(2) K, leading to a naive expectation of an all-in, all-out ordered state at low temperatures. Instead, our low-energy inelastic neutron scattering measurements show a dynamic quantum spin ice state, with suppressed scattering near |Q|=0, and no long-range order at low temperatures. This is consistent with recent theory predicting symmetry-enriched U(1) quantum spin liquids for such DO doublets decorating the pyrochlore lattice. Finally, we show that disorder, especially oxidation of powder samples, is important in Ce_{2}Zr_{2}O_{7} and could play an important role in the low-temperature behavior of this material.

Dose-Dependent Effects of Triclocarban Exposure on Lipid Homeostasis in Rats.

Environmental exposure to triclocarban (TCC), a common antibacterial agent widely used in thousands of personal care products, poses a potential risk for human health. Previous in vitro studies about biological effects of TCC have yielded a variety of inconsistent results and apparently not been verified in vivo. In the current study, dose-dependent effects of TCC exposure on lipid homeostasis in rats were investigated using a combination of untargeted 1H NMR metabolomics, targeted metabolite profiling (LC/GC-MS), histopathological assessments, and biological assays. Our results revealed that TCC dose-dependently activated aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and its transcriptional targets such as Cyp1a1 and Cyp1b1 in the liver of rats, suggesting that TCC may be a potent AHR agonist. Although TCC exhibited dose-dependent toxicity, oral exposure with relatively low dose TCC caused more significant hepatic lipogenesis of rats than relatively high and moderate doses of TCC. It was mainly manifested by histopathological observations and promotion of de novo fatty acid, phospholipid, and ceramide biosynthesis and gut microbiota fermentation. Our findings provide new insights into health effects of TCC exposure with different dosages in vivo, especially on the induction and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and further our understanding in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases induced by environmental pollutants.

Quantification of Charge Transfer at the Interfaces of Oxide Thin Films.

The interfacial electronic distribution in transition-metal oxide thin films is crucial to their interfacial physical or chemical behaviors. Core-loss electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) may potentially give valuable information of local electronic density of state at high spatial resolution. Here, we studied the electronic properties at the interface of Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 (PZT)/4.8 nm La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (LSMO)/SrTiO3 (STO) using valance-EELS with a scanning transmission electron microscope. Modeled with dielectric function theory, the charge transfer in the vicinity of the interfaces of PZT/LSMO and LSMO/STO was determined from the shifts of plasma peaks of valence EELS (VEELS), agreeing with theoretical prediction. Our work demonstrates that the VEELS method enables a high-efficient quantification of the charge transfer at interfaces, shedding light on the charge-transfer issues at heterogenous interfaces in physical and chemical devices.

Phase Competition in the Palmer-Chalker XY Pyrochlore Er_{2}Pt_{2}O_{7}.

We report neutron scattering measurements on Er_{2}Pt_{2}O_{7}, a new addition to the XY family of frustrated pyrochlore magnets. Symmetry analysis of our elastic scattering data shows that Er_{2}Pt_{2}O_{7} orders into the k=0, Γ_{7} magnetic structure (the Palmer-Chalker state), at T_{N}=0.38 K. This contrasts with its sister XY pyrochlore antiferromagnets Er_{2}Ti_{2}O_{7} and Er_{2}Ge_{2}O_{7}, both of which order into Γ_{5} magnetic structures at much higher temperatures, T_{N}=1.2 and 1.4 K, respectively. In this temperature range, the magnetic heat capacity of Er_{2}Pt_{2}O_{7} contains a broad anomaly centered at T^{*}=1.5 K. Our inelastic neutron scattering measurements reveal that this broad heat capacity anomaly sets the temperature scale for strong short-range spin fluctuations. Below T_{N}=0.38 K, Er_{2}Pt_{2}O_{7} displays a gapped spin-wave spectrum with an intense, flat band of excitations at lower energy and a weak, diffusive band of excitations at higher energy. The flat band is well described by classical spin-wave calculations, but these calculations also predict sharp dispersive branches at higher energy, a striking discrepancy with the experimental data. This, in concert with the strong suppression of T_{N}, is attributable to enhanced quantum fluctuations due to phase competition between the Γ_{7} and Γ_{5} states that border each other within a classically predicted phase diagram.

Analysis of the surgical treatment of fracture in HIV positive patients: A clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of postoperative infection and fracture nonunion as well as the risk factors for postoperative infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients. METHODS: From May 2013 to March 2016, the HIV positive fracture patients treated surgically in orthopaedics department of our hospital were analyzed retrospectively, and fifty HIV negative fracture patients during the same period were selected as control. The clinical data of included patients were reviewed. The incidence of postoperative infection and fracture nonunion were compared between the two groups, and the risk factors for postoperative infection in HIV positive patients were evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of poor wound healing and incision infection in HIV positive group was higher than that in HIV negative group, but there were no significant differences between the two groups (p>0.05). Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated that HIV clinical category (p<0.05), CD4+T-lymphocyte category (p<0.01) and open fracture (p<0.05) were independent risk factors for postoperative wound infections, but age, gender, operation time, incision type, emergency operation, albumin and lymphocyte count were not (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in the rate of nonunion between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The incision can be healed, and fracture can be united normally in most of HIV positive patients with fracture, and postoperative wound infections were significantly associated with HIV clinical category, CD4+T-lymphocyte category and open fracture.

Neutron-scattering evidence for a periodically modulated superconducting phase in the underdoped cuprate La1.905Ba0.095CuO4.

The role of antiferromagnetic spin correlations in high-temperature superconductors remains a matter of debate. We present inelastic neutron-scattering evidence that gapless spin fluctuations coexist with superconductivity in La1.905Ba0.095CuO4. Furthermore, we observe that both the low-energy magnetic spectral weight and the spin incommensurability are enhanced with the onset of superconducting correlations. We propose that the coexistence occurs through intertwining of spatial modulations of the pair wave function and the antiferromagnetic correlations. This proposal is also directly relevant to sufficiently underdoped La(2-x)Sr(x)CuO(4) and YBa(2)Cu(3)O(6+x).

Unusual presentation of PD-1 inhibitors in people living with HIV with advanced gastric cancer: Case report.

This paper seeks to determine the effect of combination anti-PD-1 and antiretroviral therapy (ART) on people living with HIV (PLWH) with advanced gastric cancer. In our case, a PLWH with recurrent locally advanced gastric cancer was treated with anti-PD-1 inhibitor and ART. A significant reduction in tumor lesions (as demonstrated by contrast-enhanced CT imaging) and a better quality of life were achieved following treatment. There have been limited studies on the treatment of PLWH with advanced gastric cancer. Chemotherapy is most often used, however, with unsatisfactory outcomes. to date, there have been no published reports on the use of PD-1 inhibitors in PLWH with advanced gastric cancer. Our report provides a valuable reference for future management of such patients.

Incretin-based drugs decrease the incidence of prostate cancer in type 2 diabetics: A pooling-up analysis.

Incretin-based drugs, a class of Antidiabetic medications (ADMs) used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, may affect the incidence of prostate cancer (PCa). But real-world evidence for this possible effect is lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the effect of incretin-based drugs on the incidence of PCa, including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for eligible studies through September 2023. Two independent reviewers performed screening and data extraction. We used the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) to assess the quality of included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies. We did a meta-analysis of available trial data to calculate overall risk ratios (RRs) for PCa. A total of 1238 articles were identified in our search. After screening for eligibility, 7 high-quality studies met the criteria for meta-analysis, including 2 RCTs and 5 cohort studies, with a total of 1165,738 patients. Compared with the control group, we found that incretin-based drugs reduced the relative risk of PCa by 35% (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.17-0.49; P = .0006). In subgroup analysis, the RR values for GLP-1 receptor agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors were 62% (95% CI, 0.45-0.85; P = .003) and 72% (95% CI, 0.46-1.12; P = .14), respectively. Incretin-based drugs are associated with lower incidence of prostate cancer and may have a preventive effect on prostate cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes.

RGB tri-luminescence in organic-inorganic zirconium halide perovskites.

Materials with two or more fluorescence features under different excitation sources have great potential in optical applications, but luminous materials with three emission characteristics have been largely undeveloped. Here, we report a novel zero-dimensional (0D) organic-inorganic hybrid ((C2H5)4N)2ZrCl6 perovskite with multiple emissions. The zirconium-based perovskite exhibits a red emission around 620 nm, a green emission at 527 nm, and a blue emission around 500 nm. The red and green emissions come from self-trapped excitons (STEs) and the d-d transitions of Zr(iv), respectively, which are caused by distortion of the [ZrCl6]2- octahedra. The blue emission is caused by thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), which is similar to that of Cs2ZrCl6. The absolute photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the red and blue double emission is up to 83% and the PLQY of the green emission is 27%. With different combinations of ((C2H5)4N)2ZrCl6 samples, we achieve a variety of applications, including a two-color luminescent anti-counterfeiting device, a white light-emitting diode (WLED) with a color rendering index (CRI) of 95 and information encryption with different excitations. We also synthesize other hybrid zirconium perovskites with tri-luminescence through a similar method. Our work provides a potential set of excitation-dependent luminescent materials and is expected to expand the basic research and practical applications of multi-luminescence materials.