Chemical Reaction Modulated Low-Dimensional Phase Toward Highly Efficient Sky-Blue Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes.

Blue perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) are crucial avenues for achieving full-color displays and lighting based on perovskite materials. However, the relatively low external quantum efficiency (EQE) has hindered their progression towards commercial applications. Quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) perovskites stand out as promising candidates for blue PeLEDs, with optimized control over low-dimensional phases contributing to enhanced radiative properties of excitons. Herein, the impact of organic molecular dopants on the crystallization of various n-phase structures in quasi-2D perovskite films. The results reveal that the highly reactive bis(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)phosphine oxide (BTF-PPO) molecule could effectively restrain the formation of organic spacer cation-ordered layered perovskite phases through chemical reactions, simultaneously passivate those uncoordinated Pb2+ defects. Consequently, the prepared PeLEDs exhibited a maximum EQE of 16.6% (@ 490 nm). The finding provides a new route to design dopant molecules for phase modulation in quasi-2D PeLEDs.

Developing abundant rare-earth iron perovskite electrodes for high-performance and low-cost solid oxide fuel cells.

The swift advancement of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) sector necessitates a harmony between electrode performance and commercialization cost. The economic value of elements is frequently linked to their abundance in the Earth's crust. Here, we develop abundant rare-earth iron perovskite electrodes of Ln0.6Sr0.4FeO3-δ (Ln = La, Pr, and Nd) with high abundant rare-earth metals and preferred iron metal for SOFCs. All three symmetric electrode materials display a cubic perovskite phase and excellent chemical compatibility with Gd0.2Ce0.8O2-δ electrolyte. All three electrodes possess exceptional surface oxygen exchange ability. At 800°C, single cells with La0.6Sr0.4FeO3-δ, Pr0.6Sr0.4FeO3-δ, and Nd0.6Sr0.4FeO3-δ symmetric electrodes attained excellent open circuit voltages of 1.108, 1.101, and 1.097 V, respectively, as well as peak powers of 213.52, 281.12, and 254.58 mW cm-2. The results suggest that overall performance of abundant rare-earth iron perovskite electrodes has a favorable impact on the extensive expansion of SOFCs, presenting significant potential for practical applications.

Spatial spillover effects of skilled migration on innovation in China.

Despite the importance of interregional skilled migration to regional development, few studies have explored its spatial spillover effects and their changes over time. Thus, employing the Spatial Durbin Model, we investigate the presence of regional spillovers of skilled migration at both national and sub-national levels in China. Especially, we focus on the regional difference and change in the spatial spillover. Although our results confirm positive spillover effects at the national level due to the strong mobility characteristic of skilled migrants, developed regions benefit more from spillovers of skilled migration than developing regions, and such effects are divergent in different regions over time. Our findings also indicate that changes in spatial spillovers among regions are closely associated with the mobility of economic factors in geography. Theoretically, by considering the spatial effects of skilled migration on the innovation output of recipient regions, we extend the labour economics literature into geographical economic agglomeration, especially innovation economic geography. Methodologically, we examine the spatial effects at both national and sub-national levels, and capture the spatial externalities; we also apply Maximum Likelihood estimation to assess the endogeneity issues to understand the mechanisms of spillover change over time. The study can be of significance for municipalities in the policy-making of attracting talents and promoting regional innovation.

Integrating Single-Cell and Spatial Transcriptomics to Uncover and Elucidate GP73-Mediated Pro-Angiogenic Regulatory Networks in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was characterized as being hypervascular. In the present study, we generated a single-cell spatial transcriptomic landscape of the vasculogenic etiology of HCC and illustrated overexpressed Golgi phosphoprotein 73 (GP73) HCC cells exerting cellular communication with vascular endothelial cells with high pro-angiogenesis potential via multiple receptor-ligand interactions in the process of tumor vascular development. Specifically, we uncovered an interactive GP73-mediated regulatory network coordinated with c-Myc, lactate, Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) pathway, and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) signals in HCC cells and elucidated its pro-angiogenic roles in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we found that GP73, the pivotal hub gene, was activated by histone lactylation and c-Myc, which stimulated the phosphorylation of downstream STAT3 by directly binding STAT3 and simultaneously enhancing glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78)-induced ERS. STAT3 potentiates GP73-mediated pro-angiogenic functions. Clinically, serum GP73 levels were positively correlated with HCC response to anti-angiogenic regimens and were essential for a prognostic nomogram showing good predictive performance for determining 6-month and 1-year survival in patients with HCC treated with anti-angiogenic therapy. Taken together, the aforementioned data characterized the pro-angiogenic roles and mechanisms of a GP73-mediated network and proved that GP73 is a crucial tumor angiogenesis niche gene with favorable anti-angiogenic potential in the treatment of HCC.

Thiocarbonyl-Based Hole Transport Materials with Enhanced Defect Passivation Ability for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells.

Organic hole transporting materials (HTMs) are extensively studied in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The HTMs directly contact the underlying perovskite material, and they play additional roles apart from hole transporting. Developing organic HTMs with defect passivation function has been proved to be an efficient strategy to construct efficient and stable PSCs. In this work, new organic molecules with thiocarbonyl (C═S) and carbonyl (C═O) functional groups are synthesized and applied as HTMs (named FN-S and FN-O). FN-S with C═S can be facilely obtained from FN-O containing C═O. Notably, the C═S in FN-S results in superior defect passivation ability compared to FN-O. Moreover, FN-S exhibits excellent hole extraction/transport capability. Conventional PSCs using FN-S as HTM show an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.25%, with excellent long-term stability and operational stability. This work indicates that simply converting C═O to C═S is an efficient way to improve the device performance by strengthening the defect passivation functionality.

Rational design of a setaria-like NiTe2/MoS2 semi-coherent heterogeneous interface for enhancing diffusion kinetics in potassium-ion batteries.

Constructing unique heterostructures is a highly effective approach for enhancing the K+ storage capability of transition metal selenides. Such structures generate internal electric fields that significantly reduce the charge transfer activation energy. However, achieving a flawless interfacial region that maintains the optimal energy level gradient and degree of lattice matching remains a considerable challenge. In this study, we synthesised Setaria-like NiTe2/MoS2@C heterogeneous interfaces at which three-dimensional MoS2 nanosheets are evenly embedded in NiTe2 nanorods to form stabilised heterojunctions. The NiTe2/MoS2 heterojunctions display distinctive electronic configurations and several active sites owing to their low lattice misfits (δ = 13 %), strong electric fields, and uniform carbon shells. A NiTe2/MoS2@C anode in a potassium-ion battery (KIB) exhibited an impressive reversible capacity of 125.8 mAh/g after 1000 cycles at a rate of 500 mA g-1 and a stable reversible capacity of 111.7 mAh/g even after 3000 cycles at 1000 mA g-1. Even the NiTe2/MoS2@C//perylene tetracarboxylic dianhydride full battery configuration maintained a significant reversible capacity of 92.4 mAh/g after 100 cycles at 200 mA g-1, highlighting its considerable potential for application in KIBs. Calculations further revealed that the well-designed NiTe2/MoS2 heterojunction significantly promotes K+ ion diffusion.

Integrating Ataxia Evaluation into Tumor-Induced Hearing Loss Model to Comprehensively Study NF2-Related Schwannomatosis.

NF2-related Schwannomatosis (NF2-SWN) is a disease that needs new solutions. The hallmark of NF2-SWN, a dominantly inherited neoplasia syndrome, is bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VSs), which progressively enlarge, leading to sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, facial weakness, and pain that translates to social impairment and clinical depression. Standard treatments for growing VSs include surgery and radiation therapy (RT); however, both carry the risk of further nerve damage that can result in deafness and facial palsy. The resultant suffering and debility, in combination with the paucity of therapeutic options, make the effective treatment of NF2-SWN a major unmet medical need. A better understanding of these mechanisms is essential to developing novel therapeutic targets to control tumor growth and improve patients' quality of life. Previously, we developed the first orthotopic cerebellopontine angle mouse model of VSs, which faithfully mimics tumor-induced hearing loss. In this model, we observed that mice exhibit symptoms of ataxia and vestibular dysfunction. Therefore, we further developed a panel of five tests suitable for the mouse VS model and investigated how tumor growth and treatment affect gait, coordination, and motor function. Using this panel of ataxia tests, we demonstrated that both ataxia and motor function deteriorated concomitantly with tumor progression. We further demonstrated that (i) treatment with anti-VEGF resulted in tumor size reduction, mitigated ataxia, and improved rotarod performance; (ii) treatment with crizotinib stabilized tumor growth and led to improvements in both ataxia and rotarod performance; and (iii) treatment with losartan did not impact tumor growth nor ameliorate ataxia or motor function. Our studies demonstrated that these methods, paired with hearing tests, enable a comprehensive evaluation of tumor-induced neurological deficits and facilitate the assessment of the effectiveness of novel therapeutics to improve NF2 treatments.

Pathological response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Eastern versus Western countries: meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Locally advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma can be treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy followed by oesophagectomy. Discrepancies in pathological response rates have been reported between studies from Eastern versus Western countries. The aim of this study was to compare the pathological response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in Eastern versus Western countries. METHODS: Databases were searched until November 2022 for studies reporting pCR rates after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Multi-level meta-analyses were performed to pool pCR rates separately for cohorts from studies performed in centres in the Sinosphere (East) or in Europe and the Anglosphere (West). RESULTS: For neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, 51 Eastern cohorts (5636 patients) and 20 Western cohorts (3039 patients) were included. Studies from Eastern countries included more men, younger patients, more proximal tumours, and more cT4 and cN+ disease. Patients in the West were more often treated with high-dose radiotherapy, whereas patients in the East were more often treated with a platinum + fluoropyrimidine regimen. The pooled pCR rate after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was 31.7% (95% c.i. 29.5% to 34.1%) in Eastern cohorts versus 40.4% (95% c.i. 35.0% to 45.9%) in Western cohorts (fixed-effect P = 0.003). For cohorts with similar cTNM stages, pooled pCR rates for the East and the West were 32.5% and 41.9% respectively (fixed-effect P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The pathological response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is less favourable in patients treated in Eastern countries compared with Western countries. Despite efforts to investigate accounting factors, the discrepancy in pCR rate cannot be entirely explained by differences in patient, tumour, or treatment characteristics.

Highly Stable Polyaniline-Based Cathode Material Enabled by Phosphorene for Zinc-Ion Batteries with Superior Specific Capacity and Cycle Life.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are regarded as a type of promising energy-storage device because of their high safety and low cost, and polyaniline (PANI) is normally employed as a cathode material for ZIBs owing to its unique electrochemical properties and high environmental stability. However, a low specific capacity and a short cycle life limit the development and applications of PANI-based electrodes. Herein, we have developed a novel type of highly stable PANI-based cathode material enabled by phosphene (PR) for aqueous Zn-PANI batteries through in situ chemical oxidative polymerization. The introduction of PR nanoflakes not only inhibits the degradation of PANI and generates more active sites for Zn2+ storage but also enables a synergistic effect of the Zn2+ insertion/extraction and P-Zn alloying reaction. This promotes a high reversible specific capacity of 240.2 mAh g-1 at 0.2 A g-1 and excellent rate performance for the PR/PANI nanocomposite cathode material. Compared to the pristine PANI cathode material, the PR/PANI nanocomposite cathode material is more suitable for the Zn-PANI battery, thanks to its higher specific capacity and better cycle stability. This study provides an innovative approach for developing the next generation of reliable PR-based electrode materials for aqueous energy-storage devices.

Improvement of Perovskite Solar Cells Efficiency by Management of the Electron Withdrawing Groups in Hole Transport Materials: Theoretical Calculation and Experimental Verification.

Management of functional groups in hole transporting materials (HTMs) is a feasible strategy to improve perovskite solar cells (PSCs) efficiency. Therefore, starting from the carbazole-diphenylamine-based JY7 molecule, JY8 and JY9 molecules are incorporated into the different electron-withdrawing groups of fluorine and cyano groups on the side chains. The theoretical results reveal that the introduction of electron-withdrawing groups of JY8 and JY9 can improve these highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels, intermolecular stacking arrangements, and stronger interface adsorption on the perovskite. Especially, the results of molecular dynamics (MD) indicate that the fluorinated JY8 molecule can yield a preferred surface orientation, which exhibits stronger interface adsorption on the perovskite. To validate the computational model, the JY7-JY9 are synthesized and assembled into PSC devices. Experimental results confirm that the HTMs of JY8 exhibit outstanding performance, such as high hole mobility, low defect density, and efficient hole extraction. Consequently, the PSC devices based on JY8 achieve a higher PCE than those of JY7 and JY9. This work highlights the management of the electron-withdrawing groups in HTMs to realize the goal of designing HTMs for the improvement of PSC efficiency.

Mental health and psychosocial interventions to limit the adverse psychological effects of disasters and emergencies in China: a scoping review.

Exposure to disasters and public health emergencies negatively affects mental health. Research documenting the psychosocial responses to these calamities in China increased dramatically after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. However, there is no comprehensive assessment of the available literature on China's mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) responses to these events. This scoping review systematically maps existing published research and grey literature sources regarding MHPSS to disasters and emergencies in China. We examined relevant literature in English and Chinese from six databases and official websites from Jan 1, 2000, to Aug 13, 2021, and included 77 full-text records in this review. The main types of interventions reported included a) stepped care intervention models, b) individual structured psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, c) mental health education, d) psychological counselling, and e) government-based policy interventions. Most interventions were evaluated using quantitative methods that assessed the treatment of common mental disorders. The review found that rapid national mobilization, emphasis on resilience-strengthening interventions, and the widespread use of step-care models were essential components of reducing the adverse psychosocial effects of disasters. The review also identified remaining gaps, including a) a lack of integration of disaster-related services with the pre-existing health care system, b) inadequate supervision of MHPSS providers, and c) limited monitoring and evaluation of the services provided. These results show where additional research is needed in China to improve mental health services. It also provides a framework that other countries can adapt when developing and evaluating MHPSS policies and plans in response to disasters.

Applications of metals and metal compounds in improving the sensitivity of microfluidic biosensors - a review.

The enhancement of detection sensitivity in microfluidic sensors has been a continuously explored field. Initially, many strategies for sensitivity improvement involved introducing enzyme cascade reactions, but enzyme-based reactions posed challenges in terms of cost, stability, and storage. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore enzyme-free cascade amplification methods, which are crucial for expanding the application range and improving detection stability. Metal or metal compound nanomaterials have gained great attention in the exploitation of microfluidic sensors due to their ease of preparation, storage, and lower cost. The unique physical properties of metallic nanomaterials, including surface plasmon resonance, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, metal-enhanced fluorescence, and surface-enhanced infrared absorption, contribute significantly to enhancing detection capabilities. The metal-based catalytic nanomaterials, exemplified by Fe3O4 nanoparticles and metal-organic frameworks, are considered viable alternatives to biological enzymes due to their excellent performance. Herein, we provide a detailed overview of the applications of metals and metal compounds in improving the sensitivity of microfluidic biosensors. This review not only highlights the current developments but also critically analyzes the challenges encountered in this field. Furthermore, it outlines potential directions for future research, contributing to the ongoing development of microfluidic biosensors with improved detection sensitivity.

Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite Ferroelectric Nanosheets Synthesized by a Room-Temperature Antisolvent Method.

Over the past years, the application potential of ferroelectric nanomaterials with unique physical properties for modern electronics is highlighted to a large extent. However, it is relatively challenging to fabricate inorganic ferroelectric nanomaterials, which is a process depending on a vacuum atmosphere at high temperatures. As significant complements to inorganic ferroelectric nanomaterials, the nanomaterials of molecular ferroelectrics are rarely reported. Here a low-cost room-temperature antisolvent method is used to synthesize free-standing 2D organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite (OIHP) ferroelectric nanosheets (NSs), that is, (CHA)2PbBr4 NSs (CHA = cyclohexylammonium), with an average lateral size of 357.59 nm and a thickness ranging from 10 to 70 nm. This method shows high repeatability and produces NSs with excellent crystallinity. Moreover, ferroelectric domains in single NSs can be clearly visualized and manipulated using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). The domain switching and PFM-switching spectroscopy indicate the robust in-plane ferroelectricity of the NSs. This work not only introduces a feasible, low-cost, and scalable method for preparing molecular ferroelectric NSs but also promotes the research on molecular ferroelectric nanomaterials.

Lead Isolation and Capture in Perovskite Photovoltaics toward Eco-Friendly Commercialization.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are developed rapidly in efficiency and stability in recent years, which can compete with silicon solar cells. However, an important obstacle to the commercialization of PSCs is the toxicity of lead ions (Pb2+) from water-soluble perovskites. The entry of free Pb2+ into organisms can cause severe harm to humans, such as blood lead poisoning, organ failure, etc. Therefore, this work reports a "lead isolation-capture" dual detoxification strategy with calcium disodium edetate (EDTA Na-Ca), which can inhibit lead leakage from PSCs under extreme conditions. More importantly, leaked lead exists in a nontoxic aggregation state chelated by EDTA. For the first time, in vivo experiments are conducted in mice to systematically prove that this material has a significant inhibitory effect on the toxicity of perovskites. In addition, this strategy can further enhance device performance, enabling the optimized devices to achieve an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.19%. This innovative strategy is a major breakthrough in the research on the prevention of lead toxicity in PSCs.

Staphylococcus aureus Conquers Host by Hijacking Mitochondria via PFKFB3 in Epithelial Cells.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) persists within mammary epithelial cells for an extended duration, exploiting the host metabolic resources to facilitate replication. This study revealed a mechanism by which intracellular S. aureus reprograms host metabolism, with PFKFB3 playing a crucial role in this process. Mechanistically, S. aureus induced mitochondrial damage, leading to increased levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) and dysfunction in electron transport chain (ETC). Moreover, S. aureus shifted the balance of mitochondrial dynamics from fusion to fission, subsequently activating PINK1-PRKN-dependent mitophagy, causing loss of the sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) to stabilize hypoxic inducible factor 1α (HIF1α), and shifting the host metabolism toward enhanced glycolysis. The inhibition of PFKFB3 reversed the mitochondrial damage and degradation of SIRT3 induced by S. aureus. Overall, our findings elucidate the mechanism by which S. aureus reprograms host metabolism and offer insights into the treatment of S. aureus infection.

Process and mechanism of preparing metallized blast furnace burden from metallurgical dust and sludge.

Metallurgical dust and sludge are solid waste resources with recycling value. In recent years, rotary hearth furnace has become the most important means to treat metallurgical dust and sludge because of its wide range of raw materials and strong treatment capacity. In this study blast furnace ash and converter sludge were selected as the research objects, and high-quality metallized pellets were prepared based on the rotary hearth furnace process. The strength changed of pellets, the reduction process of iron oxides and the removal process of zinc during the roasting of pellets in rotary hearth furnace were studied. To explore the reasonable roasting condition for preparing metallized pellets in rotary hearth furnace. The optimum roasting temperature of the pellets was 1250℃ and the roasting time was 25 min. The compressive strength, metallization rate and dezincification rate of metallized pellets reached 1361N, 97.44% and 95.67%, respectively. The efficient resource utilization of various metallurgical dust and sludge is realized.

A Review of Dupilumab in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Infants and Children.

Atopic dermatitis (AD), a common pruritic and chronic inflammatory skin disease, has a major impact on a patient's quality of life. It is characterized by dry, itchy, and eczema-like rashes. AD is more prevalent in young children and has been linked to a variety of other allergy disorders. Traditional drug therapy has certain limitations for treating young children with AD. However, biologics have good clinical application prospects in the medical treatment of young patients. Dupilumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody, specifically binds to the IL-4 Rα subunit, inhibiting IL-4 and IL-13 signaling and blocking the occurrence of type 2 inflammatory response. It has a good effect on treating infants and children with moderate-to-severe AD. This review explores the safety and efficacy of dupilumab in the treatment of AD in infants and children and the impact of early intervention on AD progression, with the aim of informing clinical practice in the use of dupilumab for the treatment of young patients with AD.

Towards a better psychological satisfaction: developing a mixed multi-criteria evaluation system to urban 'Not in my back yard' facilities siting.

'Not in My Back Yard (NIMBY)' facilities are psychologically sensitive to urban and regional development. Multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) method has been widely used for the decision-making of optimum siting of urban NIMBY facilities which aim to improve residents' psychological satisfaction. However, the evaluation of qualitative criteria in siting analysis remains under researched, such as the insufficient focus on urban and regional spatial development, social public opinion, and psychological factors. Thus, the effective improvement of MCE method through an interdisciplinary view can optimise the decision process and advance the factor assessment system of siting, which helps to supplement qualitative criteria evaluation. The specific improvement steps are as follows. The first step is to introduce the mixed MCE method to improve the qualitative criteria evaluation method by pre-processing qualitative criteria with min-max standardisation and normalization. This process transfers all negative factors to positive ones and transforms the F function to linear functions. The second step is to optimise the existing two-phase siting decision-making including the feasibility evaluation phase and the MCE phase. The third step is to propose a modular criteria system composed of urban and regional spatial planning, social psychological factors and the corresponding improvement strategy of this system from three perspectives of composition, measure, and weight. We argue that the improved method could be broadly applied to optimum siting decision of urban NIMBY facilities and enhance the psychological satisfaction of residents.