The efficacy and safety of short-course radiotherapy followed by sequential chemotherapy and Cadonilimab for locally advanced rectal cancer: a protocol of a phase II study.

BACKGROUND: For patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), namely, intensifying preoperative treatment through the integration of radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy before surgery, was commonly recommended as the standard treatment. However, the risk of distant metastasis at 3 years remained higher than 20%, and the complete response (CR) rate was less than 30%. Several clinical trials had suggested a higher complete response rate when combining single-agent immunotherapy with short-course radiotherapy (SCRT). The CheckMate 142 study had shown encouraging outcomes of dual immunotherapy and seemingly comparable toxicity for CRC compared with single-agent immunotherapy in historical results. Therefore, dual immunotherapy might be more feasible in conjunction with the TNT paradigm of SCRT. We performed a phase II study to investigate whether the addition of a dual immune checkpoint inhibitor bispecific antibody, Cadonilimab, to SCRT combined with chemotherapy might further increase the clinical benefit and prognosis for LARC patients. METHODS: This single-arm, multicenter, prospective, phase II study included patients with pathologically confirmed cT3-T4N0 or cT2-4N + rectal adenocarcinoma with an ECOG performance score of 0 or 1. Bispecific antibody immunotherapy was added to SCRT combined with chemotherapy. Patients enrolled would be treated with SCRT (25 Gy in five fractions over 1 week) for the pelvic cavity, followed by 4 cycles of CAPOX or 6 cycles of mFOLFOX and Cadonilimab. The primary endpoint was the CR rate, which was the ratio of the pathological CR rate plus the clinical CR rate. The secondary endpoints included local-regional control, distant metastasis, disease-free survival, overall survival, toxicity profile, quality of life and functional outcome of the rectum. To detect an increase in the complete remission rate from 21.8% to 40% with 80% power, 50 patients were needed. DISCUSSION: This study would provide evidence on the efficacy and safety of SCRT plus bispecific antibody immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy for patients with LARC, which might be used as a candidate potential therapy in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This phase II trial was prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, under the identifier NCT05794750.

Bound states in the continuum in circular waveguides: toward the on-chip integration of nanofiber on silicon platform.

In previously reported researches on bound state in the continuum (BIC) waveguides, almost all of them are demonstrated with top-down fabrication procedures, leading to inconvenience for post-manipulation and size tuning. Nanofibers with circular cross sections are the fundamental components to transport energy due to their intrinsic advantages of high flexibility and adjustability, which is replaceable and can be readily manipulated over size and position on the substrate. In this work, we explore the possibility of achieving on-chip integration of silica nanofiber onto a silicon-on-insulator platform. By constructing additional leakage channels in coupled nanofiber waveguides, coherently destructive interferences are successfully achieved. The heavy leakage losses from the low-index nanofiber to a high-index silicon substrate are completely eliminated with BIC, and the propagation length of the nanofiber waveguide is significantly improved.

Factors associated with sleep disorders among university students in Jiangsu Province: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aims to establish the precise prevalence of sleep disorders among university students in Jiangsu Province. Utilizing a representative sample of students, we measured their sleep quality based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Our objective is to quantitatively assess the magnitude of sleep quality and identify key factors. By detailed analysis of these relationships, our study seeks to provide actionable insights for the development of targeted interventions to enhance sleep quality within this population. Methods: From October to November 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional web-based survey in Jiangsu Province, China. Using convenient cluster sampling in each college, a total of 8457 participants were selected. The PSQI was applied to assess sleep quality among university students. Data collected included sociodemographic details, scores from the Mobile Phone Dependence Index (MPAI) and psychological resilience measured by the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Results: The overall prevalence of poor sleep quality among the participants was 39.30%. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that higher physical activity (OR = 0.921; 95% CI: 0.779-1.090), earlier roommate bedtimes (OR = 0.799; 95% CI: 0.718-0.888), quieter dormitories (OR = 0.732; 95% CI: 0.647-0.828) and higher psychological resilience (OR = 0.982; 95% CI, 0.979-0.984) were protective factors linked to lower risk of poor sleep quality. Conversely, being a female student (OR = 1.238; 95% CI: 1.109-1.382), being a senior (OR = 1.582; 95% CI: 1.344-1.863), single-child status (OR = 1.195; 95% CI: 1.077-1.326), regular smoking (OR = 1.833; 95% CI: 1.181-2.847), regular alcohol consumption (OR = 1.737; 95% CI: 1.065-2.833), high academic stress (OR = 1.326; 95% CI: 1.012-1.736), high employment stress (OR = 1.352; 95% CI: 1.156-1.582), dissatisfaction with dormitory hygiene (OR = 1.140; 95% CI: 1.028-1.265), poor self-rated physical health (OR = 1.969; 95% CI: 1.533-2.529), poor self-rated mental health (OR = 2.924; 95% CI: 2.309-3.702) and higher mobile phone dependency were risk factors associated with an increased likelihood of poor sleep quality. Conclusion: The sleep quality among university students should attract immediate attention. The development of public services and mental health education initiatives is crucial in enhancing the sleep health of this population.

Exploring Efficient Dual-Phase Emissive Fluorophores with High Mobility by Integrating a Rigid Donor and Flexible Acceptor.

Developing luminogens with a high emission efficiency in both single-molecule and aggregate states, as well as high mobility, shows promise for advancing the iteration and update of organic optoelectronic materials. However, achieving a delicate balance between the plane configuration of luminophores and the strong exciton interactions of aggregates is a formidable task from the molecular design perspective. This dilemma was overcome by integrating a rigid donor and flexible acceptor to establish donor-acceptor (D-A) type emitters. The π-conjugate-extended donor ensures the substantial planarity of these molecules, allowing strong emission in solution with photoluminescence quantum yield values of 86% and 75%. Furthermore, the restricted molecular motion of the aggregation-induced emission moiety and the formation of J-aggregates reduce the quenching effect, leading to a high emissive efficiency of 85% and 91% in the aggregate state. The mildly distorted D-A geometry builds moderate electrostatic interaction, resulting in high mobility with µM,h of 7.12 × 10-5 and 3.27 × 10-4 cm2/V s. Additionally, an improved synthesized procedure for terminal E-configured acrylonitrile with metal-free and concise reaction conditions is presented. The successful application of the synthesized compounds in organic light-emitting diode devices demonstrates the practicability of the molecular design strategy with connecting a rigid donor and flexible acceptor.

Rigid-flexible coupling network solid polymer electrolytes for all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.

Poor mechanical strength at working temperature and low ionic conductivity seriously hinder the application of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) in high performance all-solid-state lithium metal batteries (LMBs). Here, we design and prepare a series of rigid-flexible coupling network SPEs (RFN-SPEs) with soft poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains and rigid crosslinkers containing the benzene structure. Compared with soft crosslinkers, rigid crosslinkers provide the same amount of active crosslinking points with smaller molecular weight, and meanwhile enhance the mechanical strength of the network. Therefore, based on the rigid crosslinkers, RFN-SPEs exhibit synchronously improved ionic conductivity and mechanical strength. With these RFN-SPEs, symmetrical cells can be cycled for over 2100 h at 0.5 mA cm-2. Meanwhile, stable cycling and high-rate capability could be achieved for LMBs, revealing that SPEs with the rigid-flexible coupling network are promising electrolyte systems for all-solid-state LMBs.

Polychromatic and collimated lights generated by nondegenerate four-wave mixing in cesium vapor.

We demonstrate the generation of polychromatic and collimated lights at 456 nm, 459 nm, and 761 nm based on cesium (133Cs) 6S1/2 - 6P3/2 - 8S1/2 - 7P3/2, 7P1/2, 6P1/2 - 6S1/2 multi-diamond-type atomic system via two-photon excitation with two IR pump lasers at 852 nm and 795 nm. The 456 nm, 459 nm (7P3/2, 7P1/2 → 6S1/2) collimated blue lights result from the self-seeded four-wave mixing process (FWM), and the 761 nm coherent light (8S1/2 → 6P1/2) is from a seeded FWM process with the injection of a third laser at 895 nm. We measure the dependency of generated polychromatic fields on the temperature of 133Cs vapor cell and the powers of input lasers, clearly demonstrating the competition between the self-seeded FWM and seeded FWM, as they share the same excitation path. This work is helpful to further produce entangled multi-color photons for quantum communication.

Progress and application of adipose-derived stem cells in the treatment of diabetes and its complications.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious chronic metabolic disease that can lead to many serious complications, such as cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, neuropathy, and kidney disease. Once diagnosed with diabetes, patients need to take oral hypoglycemic drugs or use insulin to control blood sugar and slow down the progression of the disease. This has a significant impact on the daily life of patients, requiring constant monitoring of the side effects of medication. It also imposes a heavy financial burden on individuals, their families, and even society as a whole. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have recently become an emerging therapeutic modality for DM and its complications. ADSCs can improve insulin sensitivity and enhance insulin secretion through various pathways, thereby alleviating diabetes and its complications. Additionally, ADSCs can promote tissue regeneration, inhibit inflammatory reactions, and reduce tissue damage and cell apoptosis. The potential mechanisms of ADSC therapy for DM and its complications are numerous, and its extensive regenerative and differentiation ability, as well as its role in regulating the immune system and metabolic function, make it a powerful tool in the treatment of DM. Although this technology is still in the early stages, many studies have already proven its safety and effectiveness, providing new treatment options for patients with DM or its complications. Although based on current research, ADSCs have achieved some results in animal experiments and clinical trials for the treatment of DM, further clinical trials are still needed before they can be applied in a clinical setting.

CTRP3 alleviates mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress injury in pathological cardiac hypertrophy by activating UPRmt via the SIRT1/ATF5 axis.

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is an independent risk factor for heart failure. Disruption of mitochondrial protein homeostasis plays a key role in pathological cardiac hypertrophy; however, the mechanism of maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis in pathological cardiac hypertrophy remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the regulatory mechanisms of mitochondrial protein homeostasis in pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Wildtype (WT) mice, knockout mice, and mice transfected with lentivirus overexpressing mouse C1q-tumor necrosis factor-related protein-3 (CTRP3) underwent transverse aortic constriction or sham surgery. After 4 weeks, cardiac function, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress injury were examined. For mechanistic studies, neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were treated with small interfering RNA or overexpression plasmids for the relevant genes. CTRP3 overexpression attenuated transverse aortic constriction (TAC) induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress injury compared to that in WT mice. TAC or Ang II resulted in compensatory activation of UPRmt, but this was not sufficient to counteract pathologic cardiac hypertrophy. CTRP3 overexpression further induced activation of UPRmt during pathologic cardiac hypertrophy and thereby alleviated pathologic cardiac hypertrophy, whereas CTRP3 knockout or knockdown inhibited UPRmt. ATF5 was a key regulatory molecule of UPRmt, as ATF5 knockout prevented the cardioprotective effect of CTRP3 in TAC mice. In vitro, SIRT1 was identified as a possible downstream CTRP3 effector molecule, and SIRT1 knockout blocked the cardioprotective effects of CTRP3. Our results also suggest that ATF5 may be regulated by SIRT1. Our study demonstrates that CTRP3 activates UPRmt via the SIRT1/ATF5 axis under pathological myocardial hypertrophy, thus attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress injury.

Short-term and long-term outcomes of intracorporeal anastomosis in laparoscopic segmental left colectomy for splenic flexure cancer - a multicenter retrospective cohort study of 342 cases.

INTRODUCTION: While intracorporeal anastomosis (IA) has been widely used in totally laparoscopic right colectomy, its application in laparoscopic segmental left colectomy for splenic flexure cancer remains underexplored, particularly in large-scale studies with long-term outcomes. This research aims to assess the technical feasibility and oncological efficacy of IA in treating colonic splenic flexure carcinoma, drawing insights from both short-term and long-term outcomes of a retrospective cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 342 patients diagnosed with colonic splenic flexure carcinoma in three Chinese medical centers. These patients underwent laparoscopic segmental left colectomy between December 2014 and December 2019 across three medical institutions. Comprehensive data encompassing demographics, disease features, pathological characteristics, operative details, and both short-term and long-term outcomes were gathered and scrutinized. Using propensity scores, each patient from the IA cohort was paired with a counterpart from the extracorporeal anastomosis (EA) cohort. RESULTS: IA was performed on 129 patients, while 213 underwent EA. Post-propensity score matching resulted in 129 matched pairs. After matching, many baseline characteristics were balanced. The IA cohort exhibited several advantages, including shorter incision lengths ( P <0.001) and more extensive proximal and distal resection margins ( P =0.003, P <0.001). Additionally, the IA method facilitated a more rapid postoperative recovery as indicated by quicker return of bowel movements (resumption of passing flatus [2.7 (1.0-7.0) days vs. 3.3 (2.0-8.0) days, P <0.001] and defecation [3.7 (1.0-9.0)] days vs. 4.5 (2.0-9.0) days, P <0.001]), faster discharges [6.6 (3.0-15.0) days vs. 8.3 (5.0-20.0) days, P <0.001], and decreased need for rescue analgesics ( P <0.001). The rate of postoperative complications, as rated by the Clavien-Dindo classification, remained consistent across both techniques ( P =0.087). Furthermore, the cosmetic outcome rated by Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire and Scoring System (PSAQ) was markedly superior in the IA group ( P <0.001). Both approaches demonstrated equivalent 5-year overall (82.7% vs. 82.1%, P =0.419) and disease-free survival (80.9% vs. 78.1%, P =0.476). Subsequent stratification analysis revealed that IA achieved comparable 5-year overall (80.7% vs. 82.0%, P =0.647) and disease-free survival (78.1% vs. 76.4%, P =0.734) in patients with locally advanced colon cancer. CONCLUSION: Employing IA for laparoscopic segmental left colectomy in cases of splenic flexure carcinoma is not only safe but also offers enhanced cosmetic results and expedited postoperative recovery. Oncologically speaking, IA in left segmental colectomy for splenic flexure carcinoma can yield therapeutic outcomes comparable to those of EA, even in patients with locally advanced colon cancer.

Zn-In Alloying Powder Solvent Free Electrode Toward High-Load Ampere-Hour Aqueous Zn-Mn Secondary Batteries.

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) are promising candidates for large-scale energy storage due to high safety, abundant reserves, low-cost, and high energy density. However, the reversibility of the metallic Zn anode in the mild electrolyte is still unsatisfactory, due to the Zn dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution, and corrosion passivation. Herein, a Zn-In alloying powder solvent free electrode is proposed to replace the Zn foil in ZIBs. The novel Zn anodes are constructed by a solvent-free manufacturing process with carbons, forming a 3D Zn deposition network and providing uniformly electric field distribution. The In on the Zn powder surface can increase the overpotential for hydrogen evolution and further improve the morphology of Zn deposition against dendrite growth. The Zn solvent-free electrodes enable the Zn-MnO2 batteries with high cathode loading mass of 10-20 mg cm-2 to achieve >380 stable cycles. Furthermore, the assembled soft package batteries of 2.4 Ah (52 Wh kg-2 ) is evaluated and the capacity retention is maintained at 80% after 200 cycles at a high areal capacity of 5 mAh cm-2 without gas evolution. This work offers a workable strategy to develop a durable Zn anode for the eventually commercial applications of aqueous Zn-Mn secondary batteries.

Natural orifice specimen extraction surgery versus small-incision assisted laparoscopic radical right hemicolectomy.

Conventional laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy requires a small abdominal incision to extract the specimen, which becomes an important source of postoperative complications and impairs perioperative experience. Transvaginal natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES VIIIA) avoids this small incision by extracting the specimen through the vagina. Here we describe the design of a multicenter, open-label, parallel, noninferior, phase III randomized controlled trial (NCT05495048). The aim of this study is to confirm that the NOSES VIIIA procedure is not inferior to small-incision assisted right hemicolectomy in long-term oncological efficacy. A total of 352 female patients with right colon adenocarcinoma/high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia will be randomly assigned to the NOSES VIIIA arm and the small-incision arm in a 1:1 ratio. The primary end point of this trial is 3 year disease-free survival. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05495048 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Near-resonant twin-beam generation from degenerate four-wave mixing in hot 133Cs vapor enabled by field-dressed energy levels.

Squeezed light near an atomic resonance is beneficial for efficient atom-light quantum interfaces. It is desirable but challenging to directly generate in atoms due to excess noise from spontaneous emission and reabsorption. Here, we report on the use of energy-level modulation to actively control atomic coherence and interference in degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) and then to enhance the DFWM gain process for the generation of near-resonant squeezed twin beams. With this technique, we obtain a -2.6 dB intensity-difference squeezing detuned 100 MHz from the D1 F = 4 to F' = 4 transition of 133Cs.

Homogenized NiOx nanoparticles for improved hole transport in inverted perovskite solar cells.

The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is still lagging behind that of conventional PSCs, in part because of inefficient carrier transport and poor morphology of hole transport layers (HTLs). We optimized self-assembly of [4-(3,6-dimethyl-9H-carbazol-9-yl)butyl]phosphonic acid (Me-4PACz) onto nickel oxide (NiOx) nanoparticles as an HTL through treatment with hydrogen peroxide, which created a more uniform dispersion of nanoparticles with high conductivity attributed to the formation of Ni3+ as well as surface hydroxyl groups for bonding. A 25.2% certified PCE for a mask size of 0.074 square centimeters was obtained. This device maintained 85.4% of the initial PCE after 1000 hours of stabilized power output operation under 1 sun light irradiation at about 50°C and 85.1% of the initial PCE after 500 hours of accelerated aging at 85°C. We obtained a PCE of 21.0% for a minimodule with an aperture area of 14.65 square centimeters.

Computational and experimental assessment of health risks of fine particulate matter in Nanjing and Yangzhou, China.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a major air pollutant in most cities of China, and poses great health risks to local residents. In this study, the health effects of PM2.5 in Nanjing and Yangzhou were compared using computational and experimental methods. The global exposure mortality model (GEMM), including the results of a cohort study in China, was used to estimate the disease-related risks. Premature mortality attributable to PM2.5 exposure were markedly higher in Nanjing than that in Yangzhou at comparable levels of PM2.5 (8191 95% CI, 6975-9994 vs. 6548 95% CI, 5599-8049 in 2015). However, the baseline mortality rate was on a country-level and the age distribution was on a province-level, traditional estimation method could not accurately represent the health burdens of PM2.5 on a city-level. We proposed a refined calculation method which based on the actual deaths of each city and the disease death rates. Conversely, similar concentrations of PM2.5 exposure resulted in higher actual deaths per million population in Yangzhou (1466 95% CI, 1266-1746) than that in Nanjing (1271 95% CI, 1098-1514). Health risks of PM2.5 are associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species, among which hydroxyl radial (·OH) is the most reactive one. We then collected these PM2.5 samples and quantified the induced ·OH. Consistently, average ·OH concentration in 2015 was higher in Yangzhou than that in Nanjing, again indicating that PM2.5 in Yangzhou was more toxic. The combination of computational and experimental methods demonstrated the complex relationship between health risks and PM2.5 concentrations. The refined estimation method could help us better estimate and interpret the risks caused by PM2.5 exposure on a city-level.

In situ rapid synthesis of ionic liquid/ionic covalent organic framework composites for CO2 fixation.

IL/ICOF composites were in situ synthesized via a one-pot route in half an hour under ambient conditions for catalytic cycloaddition of CO2 with epoxides into cyclic carbonates. The prepared composites feature a decent CO2 adsorption capacity of 1.63 mmol g-1 at 273 K and 1 bar and exhibit excellent catalytic performance in terms of yield and durability. This work may pave a new way to design and construct functionalized porous organic frameworks as heterogeneous catalysts for CO2 capture and conversion.

A study of satisfaction with research capacity development of Master of Public Health and its influencing factors.

Objective: To understand the satisfaction and the current status of the training of scientific research ability of Master of Public Health students in universities, analyze the influencing factors and explore their solutions, in order to provide reference for improving the scientific research ability of Master of Public Health students. Methods: A questionnaire was used to survey Master of Public Health students in nine universities. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and multifactor logistic regression. Results: The overall satisfaction self-rating score for research capacity of Master of Public Health students was (3.29 ± 0.87), with the highest score for mentor exchange (3.78 ± 0.81) and the lowest score for subsidized treatment (1.86 ± 0.96). Satisfaction with the practice unit and school dimensions was significantly lower than the mentor dimension. The length of practice in the practice unit, subsidy treatment, importance of research capacity development, development tendency, and current status of research were influential factors contributing to the difference in satisfaction with research capacity development of Master of Public Health students (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The overall scientific training quality of Master of Public Health students is high, but there are still many aspects that need to be solved. Colleges and universities should join the funding system adapted to the practice process of Master of Public Health students and guarantee the construction of the system of student subsidy treatment. Secondly, they should strengthen the construction of public health supervisory team and improve the frequency and quality of scientific research exchanges between teachers and students. In addition, colleges and universities should improve the existing research incentives and policies, and adopt multiple forms and types of research incentives. Finally, colleges and universities should improve the research training system and the construction of research resources for Master of Public Health.

Thoracic costotransversectomy characteristics and 90-day complications vary based on underlying diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: Thoracic costotransversectomies are among the most invasive spinal procedures performed and are associated with unanticipated medical and surgical complications. Few studies have specifically assessed medical and surgical complications after a thoracic corpectomy via a costotransversectomy approach (TCT) or compared complications between different diagnoses. The purpose of this study was to describe the differences in operative characteristics and rates of 90-day surgical and medical complications in patients undergoing TCTs based on underlying diagnosis. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 123 consecutive patients who underwent TCTs at a single academic referral center over a 10-year period was conducted. Surgical indication, corpectomy levels, intraoperative dural tears, pleural injuries, neurological injuries, 90-day mortality, 90-day reoperations, and hospital-based medical complications were evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-three patients underwent a TCT, including 35 for infection, 42 for malignancy, 23 for trauma, and 23 for deformity. Fifty-nine patients (48.0%) had at least one medical or 90-day operative complication, with 22 patients (17.9%) having two or more complications. Patients with a diagnosis of infection were more likely to undergo two-level corpectomies (80% vs 26.1%, p < 0.0005). Patients with a diagnosis of malignancy had significantly higher 90-day mortality (19.0% vs 4.9%, p = 0.022) and were more likely to undergo three-level corpectomies (9.5% vs 3.7%, p = 0.002) and upper thoracic (T1-4) corpectomies (37.9% vs 12.4%, p = 0.001), and sustain a pleural injury (14.3% vs 2.5%, p = 0.019). Ninety-day reoperation rates (p = 0.970), postoperative ventilator days (p = 0.224), intensive care unit stays (p = 0.350), hospital lengths of stay (p = 0.094), neurological injuries (p = 0.338), and dural tears (p = 0.794) did not significantly vary between the different groups. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of the patients undergoing a TCT will experience an unanticipated short-term complication related to the procedure. Short-term complications may vary with the underlying patient diagnosis.

Highly Solvent Resistant Small-Molecule Hole-Transporting Materials for Efficient Perovskite Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes.

Perovskite quantum dot light-emitting diodes (Pe-QLEDs) have been shown as promising candidates for next-generation displays and lightings due to their unique feature of wide color gamut and high color saturation. Hole-transporting materials (HTMs) play crucial roles in the device performance and stability of Pe-QLEDs. However, small-molecule HTMs have been less studied in Pe-QLEDs due to their poor solvent resistance and low hole mobility. In this work, three novel small-molecule HTMs employing benzimidazole as the center core, named X4, X5, and X6, were designed and synthesized for application in Pe-QLEDs. One of the tailored HTM-X6 exhibits excellent solvent resistant ability to the perovskite quantum dot (QD) inks due to its proper solubility and low surface energy. Our result clearly demonstrated that the synergistic effect of poor solubility and low surface energy facilitates the achievement of good solvent resistance to perovskite QD inks. As a result, a promising maximal external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 14.1% is achieved in X6-based CsPbBr3 Pe-QLEDs, which is much higher than that of X4 (9.16%) and X5 (6.60%)-based devices, which is comparable to the PTAA reference (EQE ∼ 15.8%) under the same conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example that a benzimidazole-based small-molecule HTM demonstrated a good application in Pe-QLEDs. Our work provides new guidance for the rational design of small-molecule HTMs with high solvent resistance for efficient Pe-QLEDs and other photoelectronic devices.

Using the Baidu index to predict trends in the incidence of tuberculosis in Jiangsu Province, China.

Objective: To analyze the time series in the correlation between search terms related to tuberculosis (TB) and actual incidence data in China. To screen out the "leading" terms and construct a timely and efficient TB prediction model that can predict the next wave of TB epidemic trend in advance. Methods: Monthly incidence data of tuberculosis in Jiangsu Province, China, were collected from January 2011 to December 2020. A scoping approach was used to identify TB search terms around common TB terms, prevention, symptoms and treatment. Search terms for Jiangsu Province, China, from January 2011 to December 2020 were collected from the Baidu index database. Correlation coefficients between search terms and actual incidence were calculated using Python 3.6 software. The multiple linear regression model was constructed using SPSS 26.0 software, which also calculated the goodness of fit and prediction error of the model predictions. Results: A total of 16 keywords with correlation coefficients greater than 0.6 were screened, of which 11 were the leading terms. The R2 of the prediction model was 0.67 and the MAPE was 10.23%. Conclusion: The TB prediction model based on Baidu Index data was able to predict the next wave of TB epidemic trends and intensity 2 months in advance. This forecasting model is currently only available for Jiangsu Province.