Raman spectroscopic analysis for osteoporosis identification in humans with hip fractures.

Osteoporosis is a significant health concern. While multiple techniques have been utilized to diagnose this condition, certain limitations still persist. Raman spectroscopy has shown promise in predicting bone strength in animal models, but its application to humans requires further investigation. In this study, we present an in vitro approach for predicting osteoporosis in 10 patients with hip fractures using Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra were acquired from exposed femoral heads collected during surgery. Employing a leave-one-out cross-validated linear discriminant analysis (LOOCV-LDA), we achieved accurate classification (90 %) between osteoporotic and osteopenia groups. Additionally, a LOOCV partial least squares regression (PLSR) analysis based on the complete Raman spectra demonstrated a significant prediction (r2 = 0.84, p < 0.05) of bone mineral density as measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first successful demonstration of Raman spectroscopy correlating with osteoporotic status in humans.

Impact of Thrombolysis Time Metrics When Participating in National Stroke Center Construction Project.

Purpose: Intravenous thrombolysis has emerged as an effective approach to improve the long-term survival and functional status of patients with ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a national stroke project on the door-to-needle-time (DNT). Patients and Methods: The patients were divided into pre-construction and construction periods. Construction Measures were performed during the construction period. The DNT and onset-to-needle time (ONT) were compared in two period groups. Results: After participating in the National Stroke Center Project and effective measurements, the thrombolysis treatment metrics were improved significantly. The DNT (IQR) was shortened from 65.0 (54.5,85.0) minutes in the Pre-Construction period to 40.0 (33.0,53.0) minutes in the Construction period (p < 0.001). Similarly, the ONT was reduced from 157.0 (IQR) (115.0,184.0) minutes to 116.0 (87.8,170.0) minutes (p = 0.035). Conclusion: The DNT time and ONT time can be shortened by National Stroke Center Construction projects. More suitable hospitals should be encouraged to participate as the National Stroke Center.

DNA methylation of DKK-1 may correlate with pathological bone formation in ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate DNA methylation (DNAm) status of dickkopf-associated protein 1 (DKK-1) in ossified hip capsule synovium and serum among patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: Western blot was applied to detect the level of DKK-1 protein expression in hip joint capsule tissues from four patients with AS as well as four patients with femoral neck fracture (FNF) caused by trauma as control. DKK-1 gene promoter methylation (GPM) was examined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to examine the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of DKK-1, ß-catenin, and Wnt3a in both tissue and serum. The DNAm status of serum DKK-1 was measured among 36 patients with AS and syndesmophytes (AS + syndesmophytes group), 40 patients with AS but no syndesmophyte (AS group), and 42 healthy individuals (control group). Also, the serum levels of DKK-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The modified New York criteria (mNYC) together with the modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS) were adopted to examine the radiographic progression of AS. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to investigate the diagnostic value of the methylation rate of DKK-1 with regard to radiographic progression. RESULTS: The expressions of DKK-1 protein and mRNA in hip joint capsule tissues of AS patients were significantly lower, while DKK-1 GPM rate, ß-catenin mRNA, and Wnt3a mRNA were markedly higher when compared with FNF group. For serum samples, the DKK-1 methylation rate was significantly higher in AS+ syndesmophytes group in contrast to AS group and healthy controls. Serum levels of DKK-1 protein and mRNA in AS with syndesmophytes group were markedly decreased, while ß-catenin mRNA and Wnt3a mRNA expressions were significantly increased than AS with no syndesmophyte group and the healthy control group. AS patients in Grade 4 showed a significantly higher serum DKK-1 GPM rate than those in Grade 3 based on mNYC. Serum DKK-1 GPM level was markedly and positively correlated with mSASSS. Serum levels of DKK-1 in AS+ syndesmophytes group were markedly lower compared with AS but no syndesmophyte group and healthy controls. ROC curve analysis indicated that serum DKK-1 methylation rate serves as a decent indicator for AS radiographic progression. CONCLUSION: DNAm of DKK-1 may correlate with pathological bone formation in AS, which may provide new strategies for the treatment of AS abnormal bone formation.

Planar defect-free pure red perovskite light-emitting diodes via metastable phase crystallization.

Solution-processable all-inorganic CsPbI3-xBrx perovskite holds great potential for pure red light-emitting diodes. However, the widely existing defects in this mixed halide perovskite markedly limit the efficiency and stability of present light-emitting diode devices. We here identify that intragrain Ruddlesden-Popper planar defects are primary forms of such defects in the CsPbI3-xBrx thin film owing to the lattice strain caused by inhomogeneous halogen ion distribution. To eliminate these defects, we develop a stepwise metastable phase crystallization strategy to minimize the CsPbI3-xBrx perovskite lattice strain, which brings planar defect-free CsPbI3-xBrx thin film with improved radiative recombination, narrowed emission band, and enhanced spectral stability. Using these high-quality thin films, we fabricate spectrally stable pure red perovskite light-emitting diodes, showing 17.8% external quantum efficiency and 9000 candela meter-2 brightness with color coordinates required by Rec. 2020.

Thermochromic Phosphors Based on One-Dimensional Ionic Copper-Iodine Chains Showing Solid-State Photoluminescence Efficiency Exceeding 99 .

Thermochromic phosphors are intriguing materials for realizing thermochromic behaviors of light-emitting diodes. Here a highly luminescent and stable thermochromic phosphor based on one-dimensional Cu4 I6 (4-dimethylamino-1-ethylpyridinium)2 is reported. This unique ionic copper-iodine chain-based hybrid exhibits near-unity photoluminescence efficiency owing to the through-space charge-transfer character of relevant electronic transitions. More importantly, an alternative mechanism of thermochromic phosphorescence was unraveled, supported by a first principles simulation of concerted copper atom migration in the copper-iodine chain. Furthermore, we successfully fabricate a bright thermochromic light-emitting diode using this Cu4 I6 (4-dimethylamino-1-ethylpyridinium)2 thermochromic phosphor. Our reported flexible ionic copper-iodine chain-based thermochromic luminescent material represents a new type of cost-effective functional phosphor.

α-BaF2 Nanoparticle Substrate-Enabled γ-CsPbI3 Heteroepitaxial Growth for Efficient and Bright Deep-Red Light-Emitting Diodes.

All-inorganic CsPbI3 perovskite is attractive for deep-red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) because of its excellent carrier mobility, high color purity, and solution processability. However, the high phase transition energy barrier of optically active CsPbI3 black phase hinders the fabrication of efficient and bright LEDs. Here, we report a novel α-BaF2 nanoparticle substrate-promoted solution-processable heteroepitaxial growth to overcome this hindrance and obtain high-quality optically active γ-CsPbI3 thin films, achieving efficient and bright deep-red LEDs. We unravel that the highly exposed planes on the α-BaF2 nanoparticle-based heteroepitaxial growth substrate have a 99.5% lattice matching degree with the (110) planes of γ-CsPbI3. This ultrahigh lattice matching degree initiates solution-processed interfacial strain-free epitaxial growth of low-defect and highly oriented γ-CsPbI3 thin films on the substrate. The obtained γ-CsPbI3 thin films are uniform, smooth, and highly luminescent, based on which we fabricate efficient and bright deep-red LEDs with a high peak external quantum efficiency of 14.1% and a record luminance of 1325 cd m-2.

Versatile Triple-Output Molecular Logic Gate for Cysteine and Silver (I) in Foods and the Environment Based on I-Motif DNA Modulation.

DNA-based molecular logic gates have been developed rapidly but most of them have a single output mode. This study is to develop a triple-output label-free fluorescent DNA-based multifunctional molecular logic gate with berberine as a fluorescent signal and a Ag+-aptamer as a recognition matrix. The Ag+-aptamer has been identified to switch from a random coil to an i-motif structure of C-Ag+-C from a Ag+-induced responsive conformational change. As a fluorescent probe, berberine is ultrasensitive to the changes of microenvironments, and the binding to i-motif DNA's more rigid structure causes a significant increase in fluorescence, anisotropy, and lifetime. The addition of cysteine to the berberine/C-Ag+-C system disintegrates the i-motif DNA structure because of the strong coordination between Ag+ and cysteine, and then the triple-output signals are almost retrieved. Given this, a highly sensitive triple-output molecular logic gate for the analyses of Ag+ and cysteine is constructed with high specificity. Moreover, this simple and cost-effective molecular logic gate has been applied for the detection of cysteine and Ag+ in various real environmental samples including river water, PM2.5, soil, and food samples with satisfactory recoveries from 89.83 to 106.04%.

High Color Purity and Efficient Green Light-Emitting Diode Using Perovskite Nanocrystals with the Size Overly Exceeding Bohr Exciton Diameter.

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) are emerging as promising light emitters to be actively explored for high color purity and efficient light-emitting diodes. However, the most reported lead halide perovskite nanocrystal light-emitting diodes (PNCLEDs) encountered issues of emission line width broadening and operation voltage elevating caused by the quantum confinement effect. Here, we report a new type of PNCLED using large-size CsPbBr3 PNCs overly exceeding the Bohr exciton diameter, achieving ultranarrow emission line width and rapid brightness rise around the turn-on voltage. We adopt calcium-tributylphosphine oxide hybrid ligand passivation to produce highly dispersed large-size colloidal CsPbBr3 PNCs with a weak size confinement effect and also high photoluminescence quantum yield (∼85%). Utilizing these large-size PNCs as emitters, we manifest that the detrimental effects caused by the quantum confinement effect can be avoided in the device, thereby realizing the highest color purity in green PNCLED, with a narrow full width at half-maximum of 16.4 nm and a high corrected maximum external quantum efficiency of 17.85%. Moreover, the operation half-life time of the large-size PNCLED is 5-fold of that based on smaller-size PNCs. Our work provides a new avenue for improving the performance of PNCLEDs based on unconventional large-size effects.

Spectrally Stable and Efficient Pure Red CsPbI3 Quantum Dot Light-Emitting Diodes Enabled by Sequential Ligand Post-Treatment Strategy.

Metal halide perovskites are promising semiconductors for next-generation light-emitting diodes (LEDs) due to their high luminance, excellent color purity, and handily tunable band gap. However, it remains a great challenge to develop perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs) with pure red emission at the wavelength of 630 nm. Herein, we report a spectrally stable and efficient pure red PeLED by employing sequential ligand post-treated CsPbI3 quantum dots (QDs). The synthesized CsPbI3 QDs with a size of ∼5 nm are treated in sequential steps using the ligands of 1-hydroxy-3-phenylpropan-2-aminium iodide (HPAI) and tributylsulfonium iodide (TBSI), respectively. The CsPbI3 QD films exhibit improved optoelectronic properties, which enables the fabrication of a pure red PeLED with a peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 6.4% and a stable EL emission centered at the wavelength of 630 nm. Our reported sequential ligand post-treatment strategy opens a new route to improve the stability and efficiency of PeLEDs based on QDs.

A label-free Exonuclease I-assisted fluorescence aptasensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of silver ions.

Based on the specific interaction of Ag+ and cytosine-cytosine (C-C) base mismatch and using berberine (Ber) as the fluorescent probe and Exonuclease I (Exo I) as the background fluorescence reducing tool, a label-free Exo I-assisted fluorescence aptamer sensing platform was established for the detection of silver ions with high sensitivity and selectivity. Exo I reduced the fluorescence background of the Ber/Ag+-aptamer complex to a level similar to that of Ber itself in the absence of Ag+. After introducing Ag+ into the sensing system, it induces the aptamer rich in base C to form C-Ag+-C i-motif structure which are resistant to degradation mediated by Exo I. The concentration of Ber, Ag+-aptamer, Exo I and the temperature and reaction time for Exo I were all optimized. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the detection limit of Ag+ was 4.4 nM and the linear range was from 0.0059 µM to 235.48 µM with a coefficient of determination (R2) > 0.99. Moreover, the proposed strategy had been successfully applied to the detection of Ag+ in tap water and human serum with a good recovery ranging from 88.4% to 106.9%.

Suppressing Auger Recombination in Cesium Lead Bromide Perovskite Nanocrystal Film for Bright Light-Emitting Diodes.

All-inorganic cesium lead halide perovskite colloidal nanocrystals are attractive for next-generation light-emitting diodes because of their high color purity, but the nonradiative Auger recombination in perovskite nanocrystal film limits the efficiency and brightness of the fabricated devices. Here, we introduce a surface-engineering process to exchange the original long-chain oleic acid/oleylamine ligands by the cerium-tributylphosphine oxide hybrid ligands to suppress nonradiative Auger recombination in CsPbBr3 NC film for bright and low-efficiency roll-off light-emitting diodes. Using ultrafast transient absorption and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy, we demonstrate that the hybrid ligand passivation can efficiently remove surface trap states to enhance radiative recombination and homogenize the exciton concentration to suppress nonradiative Auger recombination in the CsPbBr3 nanocrystal thin film. Consequently, we fabricate a light-emitting diode with efficient charge injection into the CsPbBr3 nanocrystal emitting layer, achieving a pronounced improvement of electroluminescence with an external quantum efficiency from 5.5% to 9.1%. More importantly, the efficiency roll-off characteristics of high-brightness light-emitting diodes is effectively mitigated. Our reported hybrid ligand passivation suppressed Auger recombination strategy shows a great potential for fabricating high-brightness cesium lead halide perovskite light-emitting diodes.

Exonuclease I-assisted fluorescence aptasensor for tetrodotoxin.

A fluorescence aptasensor for the highly specific and sensitive determination of tetrodotoxin was established with tetrodotoxin-aptamer as the recognition unit, berberine as the signal reporter and exonuclease I as the elimination agent for the background. Berberine has a weak fluorescence emission at 540 nm, and it can form the tetrodotoxin-aptamer/berberine complex, resulted in an increased fluorescence. After introducing exonuclease I, it can degrade the single strand oligonucleotides of tetrodotoxin-aptamer into the single nucleotide in the absence of tetrodotoxin, which lead to dramatic fluorescence quenching, and reduce the background signal of sensing system. Once tetrodotoxin is in the presence, tetrodotoxin-aptamer is converted into the stable neck ring conformation, which resists the degradation of exonuclease I and provides a more rigid micro-environment for the excited state of berberine, and then the strong fluorescence is observed. Based on the above properties, an ultrasensitive label-free fluorescence aptasensor for tetrodotoxin is established. The fluorescence aptasensor shows good analytical performance with the linear increase of fluorescence intensity at the tetrodotoxin concentration from 0.030 nM to 6.0 × 103 nM. The detection limit of 11.0 pM is much lower than that of other reported sensor methods.

Potassium Bromide Surface Passivation on CsPbI3-xBrx Nanocrystals for Efficient and Stable Pure Red Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes.

All-inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are potential candidates for fabricating high-performance light-emitting diodes (LEDs) owing to their precisely tunable bandgaps, high photoluminescence (PL) efficiency, and excellent color purities. However, the performance of pure red (630-640 nm) all-inorganic perovskite LEDs is still limited by the halide segregation-induced instability of the electroluminescence (EL) of mixed halide CsPbI3-xBrx NCs. Herein, we report an effective approach to improving the EL stability of pure red all-inorganic CsPbI3-xBrx NC-based LEDs via the passivation of potassium bromide on NCs. By adding potassium oleate to the reaction system, we obtained potassium bromide surface-passivated (KBr-passivated) CsPbI3-xBrx NCs with pure red PL emission and a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) exceeding 90%. We determine that most potassium ions present on the surface of NCs bind with bromide ions and thus demonstrate that potassium bromide surface passivation of NCs can both improve the PL stability and inhibit the halide segregation of NCs. Using KBr-passivated CsPbI3-xBrx NCs as an emitting layer, we fabricated stable and pure red perovskite LEDs with emission at 637 nm, showing a maximum brightness of 2671 cd m-2, maximum external quantum efficiency of 3.55%, and good EL stability. The proposed KBr-passivated NC strategy will open a new avenue for fabricating efficient, stable, and tunable pure color perovskite NC LEDs.

Highly sensitive analysis of tetrodotoxin based on free-label fluorescence aptamer sensing system.

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) specifically can bind to its nucleic acid aptamer (TTX-aptamer) and cause the conformation of TTX-aptamer to be switched from the single-strand random coiling form to the compact neck ring structure. Based on the microenvironment difference of the fluorescence reporter, berberine in between the single-stranded coil oligonucleotides and the structure of the neck ring, a simple, rapid and sensitive label-free fluorescence aptamer sensing system for detection of TTX was developed. Various factors affecting the analysis of TTX were optimized, including the concentration of berberine, ion strength, pH, reaction time, the concentration of TTX-aptamer. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the fluorescence intensity of the sensing system and the concentration of TTX showed a good linear relationship in the range of 0.1 nM to 500 nM, with the detection limit of 0.074 nM. The standard recovery test result exhibited that the recoveries of TTX in serum samples were 96.54%-106.40%. The established method has the advantages of high specificity, good sensitivity, quickness and convenience, low cost, and can be used for the detection of TTX in serum samples.

Label-free fluorescent aptasensor berberine-based strategy for ultrasensitive detection of Hg2+ ion.

A label-free fluorescent aptasensing platform was fabricated and a simple and rapid method to detect Hg2+ ion in aqueous solution was put forward by means of berberine and Hg2+ ion-aptamer are as the fluorescence probe and the recognition element, respectively. Various factors including the concentration of berberine, Hg2+ ion and Hg2+ ion-aptamer, pH effect and the reaction time were investigated in detail. Under the optimal experimental conditions, in the sensing system, the fluorescence intensity changes displayed a calibration response for Hg2+ ion in the range of 0.1 µM to 10.0 µM and the detection limit was of 7.7 nM (S/N = 3). The fabricated label-free fluorescence aptasensor is not only conveniently but also effectively applicable used for analysis of Hg2+ ion in blood serum and tap water samples and the recovery range is of 96.0%-105.7%. In brief, this study offers an easy, economical and stable assay system for detecting Hg2+ ion in rough condition.

Angry characters and frightened souls: Patients and family explanatory models of bipolar disorder in Taiwan.

Bipolar disorder (BD) affects a significant proportion of Taiwanese individuals (Weissman et al., 1996; Yang, Yeh, & Hwu, 2012). Psychotropic medications are typically the mainstay of treatment for BD, and there is an abundance of international research on biological etiology and medication options. However, there is comparatively little research on psychosocial aspects of BD, including how it is understood and managed within families. As culture provides the context in which psychiatric disease is managed, there is a need to identify distinct Chinese psychosocial perspectives that might shed light on intervention options. This research explored how Taiwanese patients and family members comprehend and cope with BD. A sample of 42 participants, including 20 Taiwanese patients diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder-I (BD-I) for at least 4 years, and 22 family members, participated in separate interviews on explanatory models of illness. Qualitative thematic analysis focused on features that were distinct from those in current Western research literature. Five themes were identified that represented Taiwanese conceptualizations of BD, notions of etiology, views regarding treatment, and the difficulties in managing the disorder. Participants used Chinese language terms and descriptions of BD that reflected greater concerns about irritability, anger, and family conflict than about other symptoms, and participants also emphasized characterological trait descriptions of the condition. Their responses reflected their acceptance of lifelong family responsibility for caretaking, clashing beliefs regarding biomedical versus traditional Chinese medical and spiritual models of etiology and cure, profound concerns about the effects of psychiatric medication on the liver and kidney systems, and a focus on stress rather than genetic or biological models of etiology.