A 3,3'-Difluoro-2,2'-Bithiophene Based Donor Polymer Realizing High Efficiency (>17%) Single Junction Binary Organic Solar Cells.

In this study, two novel donor-acceptor (D-A) copolymers are designed and synthesized, DTBT-2T and DTBT-2T2F with 2,2'-bithiophene or 3,3'-difluoro-2,2'-bithiophene as the donor unit and dithienobenzothiadiazole as the acceptor unit, and used them as donor materials in non-fullerene organic solar cells (OSCs). Due to enhanced planarity of polymer chains resulted by the intramolecular F···S noncovalent interactions, the incorporation of 3,3'-difluoro-2,2'-bithiophene unit instead of 2,2'-bithiophene into the polymers can enhance their molecular packing, crystallinity and hole mobility. The DTBT-2T:L8-BO based binary OSCs deliver a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of only 9.71% with a Voc of 0.78 V, a Jsc of 20.69 mA cm-2 , and an FF of 59.67%. Moreover, the introduction of fluoro atoms can lower the highest occupied molecular orbital levels. As a result, DTBT-2T2F:L8-BO based single-junction binary OSCs exhibited less recombination loss, more balanced charge mobility, and more favorable morphology, resulting in an impressive PCE of 17.03% with a higher Voc of 0.89 V, a Jsc of 25.40 mA cm-2, and an FF of 75.74%. These results indicate that 3,3'-difluoro-2,2'-bithiophene unit can be used as an effective building block to synthesize high performance polymer donor materials. This work greatly expands the selection range of donor units for constructing high-performance polymers.

[Preventive early intervention strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders of high-risk infants]. / é«˜å±å„¿ç¥žç»å‘è‚²éšœç¢é¢„é˜²æ€§æ—©æœŸå¹²é¢„ç ”ç©¶è¿›å±•.

Neurodevelopmental disorders in children have become a significant global public health concern, impacting child health worldwide. In China, the current intervention model for high-risk infants involves early diagnosis and early treatment. However, in recent years, overseas studies have explored novel preventive early intervention strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders in high-risk infants, achieving promising results. This article provides a comprehensive review of the optimal timing, methods, and intervention models of the preventive early intervention strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders in high-risk infants. The aim is to enhance the awareness and knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding preventive early intervention strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders in high-risk infants, facilitate clinical research and application of such interventions in China, and ultimately reduce the incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders in this high-risk population.

Evaluation for Performance of Body Composition Index Based on Quantitative Computed Tomography in the Prediction of Metabolic Syndrome.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the performance of predicting metabolic syndrome (MS) using body composition indices obtained by quantitative computed tomography (QCT). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from 4745 adults who underwent QCT examinations at a Chongqing teaching hospital between July 2020 and March 2022. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), total abdominal fat (TAT), abdominal muscle tissue (AMT), and liver fat content (LFC) were measured at the L2-L3 disc level using specialized software, and the skeletal muscle index (SMI) were calculated. The correlations between body composition indicators were analyzed using the Pearson correlation analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and area under the curve (AUC) were used to assess these indicators' predictive potential for MS. Results: VAT and TAT exhibited the best predictive ability for MS, with AUCs of 0.797 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.779-0.815] and 0.794 (95% CI: 0.775-0.812) in males, and 0.811 (95% CI: 0.785-0.836) and 0.802 (95% CI: 0.774-0.830) in females. The AUCs for VAT and TAT were the same but significantly higher than body mass index and other body composition measures. SAT also demonstrated good predictive power in females [AUC = 0.725 (95%CI: 0.692-0.759)] but fair power in males [AUC = 0.6673 (95%CI: 0.650-0.696)]. LFC showed average predictive ability, AMT showed average predictive ability in males but poor ability in females, and SMI had no predictive ability. Correlation analysis revealed a strong correlation between VAT and TAT (males: r = 0.95, females: r = 0.89). SAT was strongly correlated with TAT only in females (r = 0.89). In the male group, the optimal thresholds for VAT and TAT were 207.6 and 318.7 cm2, respectively; in the female group, the optimal thresholds for VAT and TAT were 128.0 and 269.4 cm2, respectively. Conclusions: VAT and TAT are the best predictors of MS. SAT and LFC can also be acceptable to make predictions, whereas AMT can only make predictions of MS in males.

Synergistic Improvement of Strength Characteristics in Recycled Aggregates Using Nano-Clay and Polypropylene Fiber.

In order to study the improvement effect of nano-clay and polypropylene fiber on the mechanical properties of recycled aggregates, unconfined compression tests and triaxial shear tests were conducted. The experimental results show that adding polypropylene fibers to recycled aggregates increases the unconfined compressive strength by 27% and significantly improves ductility. We added 6% nano-clay to fiber-reinforced recycled aggregates, which increased the unconfined compressive strength of the recycled aggregates by 49% and the residual stress by 146%. However, the ductility decreased. Under low confining pressures, with the addition of nano-clay, the peak deviatoric stress strength of the fiber-reinforced recycled aggregates first decreased and then increased. When the nano-clay content was 8%, this reached a maximum value. However, under high confining pressures, the recycled aggregate particles were tightly interlocked, so that the improvement effect of the fiber and nano-clay was not obvious. As more nano-clay was added, the friction angle of the fiber-reinforced recycled aggregates decreased, while the cohesion increased. When the content of nano-clay was 8%, the cohesive force increased by 110%. The results of this research indicate that adding both polypropylene fibers and nano-clay to recycled aggregates has a better improvement effect on their strength characteristics than adding only polypropylene fibers. This study can provide a reference for improving the mechanical properties of recycled aggregates and the use of roadbeds.

Associations between body size and visual impairment of first-year university students in Chongqing: A cross-sectional study.

The relationship between body size and visual impairment (VI) presents a controversial topic in the health sciences. This study aims to evaluate and clarify the potential associations between these 2 variables. We conducted a cross-sectional study on first-year students enrolled in 2022 at the Southwest University of Political Science & Law. The students underwent a series of physical examinations and visual acuity tests. Visual impairment was classified into 3 categories: mild, moderate, or severe. We used logistic regression analysis to examine the association between body size and VI. Our findings indicated a high prevalence of VI among first-year university students; more than 80% of them were affected. In bivariate analysis, height and weight were negatively related to the presence of VI. However, BMI (body mass index) was not related to VI. By adjusting all available confounders, no associations between BMI (OR = 1.002, 95% CI = 0.974-1.032, P = .877), height (OR = 0.998, 95% CI = 0.967-1.010, P = .298), weight (OR = 0.999, 95% CI = 989-1.009, P = .860), and mild-severe VI were found in females. For males, the ORs were 0.988 (95% CI = 0.955-1.021, P = .459), 0.980 (95% CI = 0.954-1.006, P = .135), and 0.995 (95% CI = 0.985-1.004, P = .285) for BMI, height, and weight, respectively. Among young adults demonstrating high academic performance in high schools, the cessation of physical growth, combined with potential eye strain resulting from overuse, may mitigate any previously observed positive associations between physical status and VI in younger children.

Halogenated Nonfused Ring Electron Acceptor for Organic Solar Cells with a Record Efficiency of over 17.

Three nonfused ring electron acceptors (NFREAs), namely, 3TT-C2-F, 3TT-C2-Cl, and 3TT-C2, are purposefully designed and synthesized with the concept of halogenation. The incorporation of F or/and Cl atoms into the molecular structure (3TT-C2-F and 3TT-C2-Cl) enhances the π-π stacking, improves electron mobility, and regulates the nanofiber morphology of blend films, thus facilitating the exciton dissociation and charge transport. In particular, blend films based on D18:3TT-C2-F demonstrate a high charge mobility, an extended exciton diffusion distance, and a well-formed nanofiber network. These factors contribute to devices with a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 17.19%, surpassing that of 3TT-C2-Cl (16.17%) and 3TT-C2 (15.42%). To the best of knowledge, this represents the highest efficiency achieved in NFREA-based devices up to now. These results highlight the potential of halogenation in NFREAs as a promising approach to enhance the performance of organic solar cells.

Suppression of damping in a diamagnetically levitated dielectric sphere via eddy currents and static charge reduction.

Diamagnetically levitated micro-nano oscillators play a crucial role in fundamental physics research and the advancement of high-precision sensors. Achieving high sensitivity in acceleration or force sensing is a fundamental requirement within these research domains. The primary limitation in achieving such sensitivity is thermal noise, which is directly proportional to the motion damping of the oscillator. Theoretical modeling suggests the presence of significant damping mechanisms induced by eddy currents. In this study, we validated the theoretical model by optimizing the structure of the magnet trap, confirming the impact of eddy currents on the damping of the oscillators. Additionally, we observed another type of damping caused by static charge in moving levitated dielectrics. Subsequently, we proposed an innovative theoretical model to explain this phenomenon and verified its validity during the charge neutralization process. Through these efforts, we successfully reduced the total damping from 1.6 mHz to 0.15 mHz, resulting in an order of magnitude improvement in performance. Our sensing system achieved the highest sensitivity of acceleration sensing in diamagnetically levitated submillimeter-scale dielectric to date, measuring 7.6±0.8)×10-10g/Hz. The exploration conducted in this study regarding the analysis and suppression of electromagnetic damping, along with associated thermal noise, holds significant promise for frontier research involving sensing with levitating dielectrics.

Study on Dynamic Modulus and Damping Characteristics of Modified Expanded Polystyrene Lightweight Soil under Cyclic Load.

In recent years, expanded polystyrene (EPS) lightweight soil has been widely used as subgrade in soft soil areas because of its light weight and environmental protection. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic characteristics of sodium silicate modified lime and fly ash treated EPS lightweight soil (SLS) under cyclic loading. The effects of EPS particles on the dynamic elastic modulus (Ed) and damping ratio (λ) of SLS were determined through dynamic triaxial tests at various confining pressures (σ3), amplitudes, and cycle times. Mathematical models of the Ed of the SLS, cycle times, and σ3 were established. The results revealed that the EPS particle content played a decisive role in the Ed and λ of the SLS. The Ed of the SLS decreased with an increase in the EPS particle content (EC). The Ed decreased by 60% in the 1-1.5% range of the EC. The existing forms of lime fly ash soil and EPS particles in the SLS changed from parallel to series. With an increase in σ3 and amplitude, the Ed of the SLS gradually decreased, the λ generally decreased, and the λ variation range was within 0.5%. With an increase in the number of cycles, the Ed of the SLS decreased. The Ed value and the number of cycles satisfied the power function relationship. Additionally, it can be found from the test results that 0.5% to 1% was the best EPS content for SLS in this work. In addition, the dynamic elastic modulus prediction model established in this study can better describe the varying trend of the dynamic elastic modulus of SLS under different σ3 values and load cycles, thereby providing a theoretical reference for the application of SLS in practical road engineering.

Tilianin alleviates lipid deposition and fibrosis in mice with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by activating the PPARα/Nnat axis.

The understanding and treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are still very limited. This study reports the therapeutic effect of tilianin on mice with NASH and further explores its possible molecular mechanisms. A mice model of NASH was established using low-dose streptozotocin combined with a high-fat diet and tilianin treatment. Liver function was assessed by determining serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in serum. Interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels in serum were determined. Hepatocyte apoptosis was assessed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling staining. Oil Red O staining and boron dipyrrin staining were used to determine lipid deposition in liver tissues. Masson staining was used to evaluate liver fibrosis, and immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis were used to determine the expression of target proteins. Tilianin treatment significantly ameliorated liver function, inhibited hepatocyte apoptosis, and reduced lipid deposition and liver fibrosis in mice with NASH. The expression of neuronatin (Nnat) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α was upregulated, whereas that of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), TGF-ß1, nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65, and phosphorylated p65 was downregulated in the liver tissues of mice with NASH after tilianin treatment. The above effects of tilianin were significantly reversed after Nnat knock-down, but its effect on PPARα expression was unaffected. Thus, the natural drug tilianin shows potential in treatig NASH. Its mechanism of action may be related to the targeted activation of PPARα/Nnat, thereby inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Performance and mechanism of GO removal by gypsum from aqueous solution.

The widespread production and application of graphene oxide (GO) may lead to its dispersion throughout natural water systems, with potential negative effects on living organisms and the ecological environment. This study used gypsum (G) as an adsorbent and examined different conditions (pH, adsorbent dosage, GO initial concentration) for the removal effect of GO by G. The results showed the best adsorption effect for a solution pH of 8.0, gypsum dosage of 60 mg, initial GO concentration of 80 mg·L-1, and temperature of 303 K; at this time, the maximum removal rate of graphene oxide by gypsum was 93.3%. It could be obtained by isotherm and thermodynamic analysis that the GO adsorption by gypsum conforms to the Langmuir isotherm model, it does not easily occur in high-temperature environments, and is a spontaneous exothermic process. In addition, experiments such as SEM, AFM, TGA, XRD, XPS, FTIR, Raman, and Zeta were used to adsorb graphene oxide by gypsum composites (G/GO), through which the mineral interactions with graphene oxides were microscopically characterized. The impact on the adsorption properties of contaminants provides new insights into contaminant removal by gypsum.

Experimental Study on the Mechanical Properties of Diatomite-Modified Coastal Cement Soil.

Diatomite is a non-metallic mineral resource rich in SiO2, which can be used to modify coastal cement soil. In order to explore the mechanical modification effect of diatomite on coastal cement soil at the age of 7 days, based on coastal cement soil with cement content of 5% (mass fraction), diatomite of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% (mass fraction) was mixed for modification. Through the unconfined compressive strength test, the triaxial unconsolidated undrained test, backscattered electron imaging (BSE), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) technology, the influence of diatomite content and confining pressure on the peak strength of modified coastal cement soil was explored. The empirical formula between the peak strength of the DE specimen and the content of diatomite and confining pressure was established by curve fitting, and the fitting effect was ideal. When diatomite was mixed with coastal cement soil, the optimal dosage of diatomite was 5% from the perspective of mechanical properties and economic benefits of the maximum growth rate of compression and shear. The unconfined compressive strength test showed that the peak strength and elastic modulus of the modified coastal cement soil with 5% diatomite content were 37% and 57% higher than those of cement soil, respectively. The triaxial unconsolidated undrained test showed that the internal friction angle of the modified coastal cement soil was stable at about 30°, and cohesion of DE-5, DE-10, DE-15, and DE-20 increased by 28%, 48%, 78%, and 97%, respectively, compared to cement soil. The microscopic test found that the pore distribution of modified coastal cement soil is closely related to the strength change. The results show that the addition of diatomite can effectively improve the mechanical properties of soil-cement.

Characterization of Cuticular Wax in Tea Plant and Its Modification in Response to Low Temperature.

Cuticular wax ubiquitously covers the outer layer of plants and protects them against various abiotic and biotic stresses. Nevertheless, the characteristics of cuticular wax and its role in cold resistance in tea plants remain unclear. In our study, cuticular wax from different tissues, cultivars, and leaves during different spatio-temporal growth stages were characterized and compared in tea plants. The composition, distribution pattern, and structural profile of cuticular wax showed considerable tissue specificity, particularly in petals and seeds. During the spatial development of tea leaves, total wax content increased from the first to fifth leaf in June, while a decreasing pattern was observed in September. Additionally, the total wax content and number of wax compounds were enhanced, and the wax composition significantly varied with leaf growth from June to September. Ten cultivars showed considerable differences in total wax content and composition, such as the predominance of saturated fatty acids and primary alcohols in SYH and HJY cultivars, respectively. Correlation analysis suggested that n-hexadecanoic acid is positively related to cold resistance in tea plants. Further transcriptome analysis from cold-sensitive AJBC, cold-tolerant CYQ, and EC 12 cultivars indicated that the inducible expression of wax-related genes was associated with the cold tolerance of different cultivars in response to cold stress. Our results revealed the characterization of cuticular wax in tea plants and provided new insights into its modification in cold tolerance.

Shear Behavior of Recycled Fine Aggregate Reinforced by Nano-MgO Modified Cement.

In order to study the mechanical modification effect of nano-MgO on cement-reinforced recycled fine aggregate (CRA), direct shear tests and triaxial shear tests were carried out. In the test of recycled fine aggregate reinforced by nano-MgO modified cement (MCRA), the cement content was fixed at 2%, and the nano-MgO content varied between 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%. The test results showed that adding nano-MgO can greatly increase both the direct shear strength and triaxial shear strength of MCRA. This increase in direct shear strength was mainly attributed to the increase in cohesion. However, this increase in triaxial shear strength was attributed to the simultaneous increase in the cohesion and friction angle.

The Elastic Modulus and Damage Stress-Strain Model of Polypropylene Fiber and Nano Clay Modified Lime Treated Soil under Axial Load.

Using polypropylene fiber (PPF) and nano clay modified lime treated soil (LS), the static and dynamic properties of fiber modified lime treated soil (FLS), nano clay modified lime treated soil (NLS), and fiber nano clay composite modified lime treated soil (NFLS) were studied. Through the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test and dynamic triaxial test of FLS, NLS, and NFLS, the static and dynamic elastic modulus characteristics at 7 day curing age were explored, and the damage stress-strain model was established. The results show that: (1) Polypropylene fiber and nano clay can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of NFLS. Nano clay can promote the reaction between lime and soil to produce calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and calcium aluminate hydrate (C-A-H), thus improving the strength of NFLS, and UCS can be increased by up to 103%. Polypropylene fiber can enhance the ductility of NFLS and increase the residual ductility strength, and the residual strength can be increased by 827%. (2) Nano clay can enhance the static and dynamic elastic modulus of modified lime treated soil. The static and dynamic elastic modulus of NLS, FLS, and NFLS are linear with the change of polypropylene fiber and nano clay content. The static and dynamic elastic modulus of NLS, FLS, and NFLS are linear, exponential, and logarithmic, respectively. (3) The mesoscopic random damage model can characterize the stress-strain relationship of NFLS. Polypropylene fiber and nano clay can improve the ductility and strength of modified LS, and the composite addition of polypropylene fiber and nano clay can improve the ability of modified LS to resist damage.

Designing High-Performance Nonfused Ring Electron Acceptors via Synergistically Adjusting Side Chains and Electron-Withdrawing End-Groups.

Three nonfused ring electron acceptors, Hexyl-0F, Isopropyl-0F, and Isopropyl-2F, are designed and synthesized. Unlike Hexyl-0F, Isopropyl-0F with two sterically hindered 2,4,6-triisopropyl-phenyl groups is highly soluble, which provides a good opportunity for solution processability. Compared with Isopropyl-0F, Isopropyl-2F with fluorinated end-groups exhibits red-shifted absorption. Due to these synergistic adjustment, Isopropyl-2F-based devices displayed a high power conversion efficiency of 12.55%, higher than that of Isopropyl-0F (9.49%). The result demonstrates that the introduction of large steric substituents in the π-bridge units and electron-withdrawing end-groups plays a positive role in the construction of high-efficiency nonfused ring electron acceptors.

Adsorption Properties and Mechanism of Attapulgite to Graphene Oxide in Aqueous Solution.

In order to remove toxic graphene oxide (GO) from aqueous solution, attapulgite (ATP) was used as adsorbent to recycle it by adsorption. In this paper, the effects of different pH, adsorbent mass, GO concentration, time and temperature on the adsorption of GO by attapulgite were studied, and the adsorption performance and mechanism were further explored by XRD, AFM, XPS, FTIR, TEM and SEM tests. The results show that when T = 303 K, pH = 3, and the GO concentration is 100 mg/L in 50 mL of aqueous solution, the removal rate of GO by 40 mg of attapulgite reaches 92.83%, and the partition coefficient Kd reaches 16.31. The adsorption kinetics results showed that the adsorption equilibrium was reached at 2160 min, and the adsorption process could be described by the pseudo-second-order adsorption equation, indicating that the adsorption process was accompanied by chemical adsorption and physical adsorption. The isotherm and thermodynamic parameters show that the adsorption of GO by attapulgite is more consistent with the Langmuir isotherm model, and the reaction is a spontaneous endothermic process. The analysis shows that attapulgite is a good material for removing GO, which can provide a reference for the removal of GO in an aqueous environment.

Fast size estimation of single-levitated nanoparticles in a vacuum optomechanical system.

Optical trapping of single nanoparticles in vacuum has various applications in both precise measurements and fundamental physics. However, to date, the number and size of randomly loaded nanoparticles in an optical trap is difficult to determine unless in vacuum. In this Letter, an efficient method for nanoparticle size estimation in an optical tweezer system before the evacuation of air was proposed and demonstrated experimentally, using scattering light from levitated particles. The particle radii deduced from the scattering light power in our proposal and from the kinetic theory of particles in gas match well (with the differences of less than 10%). For sample particles with radii ranging within 50-100 nm, we also provide a preselection rule based on this method, where over half of the trapped particles are verified as single particles. Such a particle analysis method is applicable also for the size estimation of levitated diamond particles, gold particles, and other plasmonic particles and can be applied to discovering novel scattering effects.

The short-term safety and effectiveness of a new distal perforating stent graft in Type B aortic dissection: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Spinal artery ischemia (SCI) events can result from over coverage of the descending thoracic aorta with a coated stent during Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR). The aim of this study was to determine whether a new distal perforating stent could reduce the incidence of spinal cord ischemia while remodeling the true lumen. METHODS: TBAD patients treated with Talos stent in the vascular surgery Department of Yan 'an Hospital affiliated to Kunming Medical University between December 2017 and October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed to investigate the short-term safety and effectiveness of Talos stent. RESULTS: A total of the 20 patients, including 14 males and 6 females, with an average age of 52.65 ± 8.98 years (range 37-68 years), were included in the analysis. Stent-grafts were successfully implanted in all patients under local anesthesia, with a technical success rate of 100%. The average operation time was 50.75 ± 13.01 min. A total of 2 cases (10%) presented chest pain associated with intercostal artery ischemia that was relieved on the 3rd and 5th postoperative day, respectively. Postoperative mean follow-up was 16.15 ± 3.99 months. No paraplegia or other complications occurred. And stenting did not induce new tears. No migration, deformation, or fracture of the stents occurred. There was a significant difference in the remolding of the true lumen preoperatively and at 12 months postoperatively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Talos stent has achieved satisfactory clinical treatment results in short term.

Long non-coding RNA NEAT1 promotes lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by regulating miR-424-5p/MAPK14 axis.

BACKGROUND: Many long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been suggested to play critical roles in acute lung injury (ALI) pathogenesis, including lncRNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to further elucidate the functions and molecular mechanism of NEAT1 in ALI. METHODS: Human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (HPAEpiCs) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were served as a cellular model of ALI. Cell viability and cell apoptosis were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of NEAT1, microRNA-424-5p (miR-424-5p), and mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14) was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or western blot analysis. Caspase activity was determined by caspase activity kit. The inflammatory responses were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The oxidative stress factors were analyzed by corresponding kits. RESULTS: NEAT1 was upregulated in LPS-stimulated HPAEpiCs. NEAT1 knockdown weakened LPS-induced injury by inhibiting apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress in HPAEpiCs. Moreover, miR-424-5p was a direct target of NEAT1, and its knockdown reversed the effects caused by NEAT1 knockdown in LPS-induced HPAEpiCs. Furthermore, MAPK14 was a downstream target of miR-424-5p, and its overexpression attenuated the effects of miR-424-5p on reduction of LPS-induced injury in HPAEpiCs. Besides, NEAT1 acted as a sponge of miR-424-5p to regulate MAPK14 expression. CONCLUSION: NEAT1 knockdown alleviated LPS-induced injury of HPAEpiCs by regulating miR-424-5p/MAPK14 axis, which provided a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of ALI.

Efficient Ternary Organic Solar Cells with a New Electron Acceptor Based on 3,4-(2,2-Dihexylpropylenedioxy)thiophene.

In this work, a ternary blend strategy based on PBDB-T and two small molecular acceptors (IDTT-OB and IDT-PDOT-C6) is demonstrated to simultaneously improve the photocurrent and reduce the voltage loss in organic solar cells (OSCs). The improved photocurrent is partially due to a broad absorption spectrum of the active layer. In addition, we find that the ternary system possesses a higher degree of crystallinity, smaller domain size, higher domain purity, and higher and more balanced charge-carrier mobilities in comparison with the two corresponding binary systems. The reduced voltage loss in the ternary device is mainly due to a lower energy loss (Eloss) of charge carriers. We achieve a Eloss of only 0.50 eV, which is one of the lowest values reported for the ternary nonfullerene OSCs. Our results have demonstrated that all photovoltaic parameters of ternary OSCs can be simultaneously improved by elaborately selecting the three active layer components.