G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs): advances in structures, mechanisms, and drug discovery.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest family of human membrane proteins and an important class of drug targets, play a role in maintaining numerous physiological processes. Agonist or antagonist, orthosteric effects or allosteric effects, and biased signaling or balanced signaling, characterize the complexity of GPCR dynamic features. In this study, we first review the structural advancements, activation mechanisms, and functional diversity of GPCRs. We then focus on GPCR drug discovery by revealing the detailed drug-target interactions and the underlying mechanisms of orthosteric drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in the past five years. Particularly, an up-to-date analysis is performed on available GPCR structures complexed with synthetic small-molecule allosteric modulators to elucidate key receptor-ligand interactions and allosteric mechanisms. Finally, we highlight how the widespread GPCR-druggable allosteric sites can guide structure- or mechanism-based drug design and propose prospects of designing bitopic ligands for the future therapeutic potential of targeting this receptor family.

The effect of phosphorylation on the conformational dynamics and allostery of the association of death-associated protein kinase with calmodulin.

Protein phosphorylation plays an important role in the signal transduction and is capable of regulation of cell activity. The death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1), as a Ser/Thr kinase, interacts with calmodulin (CaM) to regulate apoptotic and autophagic signaling. Autophosphorylation of DAPK1 at Ser308 located at the autoregulatory domain (ARD) blocks CaM binding and inhibits kinase catalytic activity. However, the mechanism underlying the influence of Ser308 phosphorylation (pS308) on the DAPK1 activity remains unclear. Here, we performed multiple, microsecond length molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the molecular mechanics generalized Born/surface area (MM-GBSA) binding free energy calculations, principal component analysis, and dynamic cross-correlation analysis to unravel the conformational dynamics and allostery of the DAPK1 - CaM interaction triggered by the pS308 at the ARD. MD simulations showed that pS308 affected the conformational stability of the DAPK1 - CaM complex. Further energetic and structural exploration revealed that pS308 weakened the association of the phosphorylated DAPK1 to CaM, which lowered the susceptibility of DAPK1 to be activated by CaM. This result can provide mechanistic insights into the molecular underpinning through which the DAPK1 kinase activity is modulated by the auto-phosphorylation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Deep learning on tertiary lymphoid structures in hematoxylin-eosin predicts cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response.

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) have been associated with favorable immunotherapy responses and prognosis in various cancers. Despite their significance, their quantification using multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) staining of T and B lymphocytes remains labor-intensive, limiting its clinical utility. To address this challenge, we curated a dataset from matched mIHC and H&E whole-slide images (WSIs) and developed a deep learning model for automated segmentation of TLSs. The model achieved Dice coefficients of 0.91 on the internal test set and 0.866 on the external validation set, along with intersection over union (IoU) scores of 0.819 and 0.787, respectively. The TLS ratio, defined as the segmented TLS area over the total tissue area, correlated with B lymphocyte levels and the expression of CXCL13, a chemokine associated with TLS formation, in 6140 patients spanning 16 tumor types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The prognostic models for overall survival indicated that the inclusion of the TLS ratio with TNM staging significantly enhanced the models' discriminative ability, outperforming the traditional models that solely incorporated TNM staging, in 10 out of 15 TCGA tumor types. Furthermore, when applied to biopsied treatment-naïve tumor samples, higher TLS ratios predicted a positive immunotherapy response across multiple cohorts, including specific therapies for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and stomach adenocarcinoma. In conclusion, our deep learning-based approach offers an automated and reproducible method for TLS segmentation and quantification, highlighting its potential in predicting immunotherapy response and informing cancer prognosis.

A phase 4, open-label study to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of DTaP5-HBV-IPV-Hib in children previously vaccinated with DTaP2-HBV-IPV-Hib or DTaP5-HBV-IPV-Hib (V419-016).

DTaP5-HBV-IPV-Hib (Vaxelis®) is a hexavalent combination vaccine (HV) indicated in infants and toddlers for the prevention of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, poliomyelitis, and invasive disease due to Haemophilus influenzae type b. Switching between HVs during the childhood vaccination series is sometimes necessary due to, for example, vaccine availability, health-care provider preference, and/or tender awards. The purpose of this study was to describe the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a booster dose of Vaxelis® in participants who previously received a primary infant series of either DTaP2-HBV-IPV-Hib (Hexyon®) or Vaxelis®. Healthy participants approximately 11-13 months of age who previously received a two-dose primary series of Hexyon® (HHV group) or Vaxelis® (VVV group) all received a Vaxelis® booster dose. Immunogenicity was evaluated by measuring antibody levels to individual vaccine antigens approximately 30 days following booster vaccination. Safety was evaluated as the proportion of participants with adverse events (AEs). The proportions of participants with antibody-specific responses for antigens contained in both Vaxelis® and Hexyon® at 30 days post-toddler-booster vaccination with Vaxelis® were comparable between groups, and higher in the VVV group for Vaxelis® antigens PRN and FIM2/3. The overall proportions of participants with AEs were generally comparable between groups. Following a booster dose of Vaxelis®, immune responses were comparable between groups for all shared antigens, and higher in the VVV group for antigens found only in Vaxelis®. The booster was well tolerated in both groups. These data support the use of Vaxelis® as a booster in mixed HV regimens.

Turnip mosaic virus NIb weakens the function of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 6 facilitating viral infection in Nicotiana benthamiana.

Viruses rely completely on host translational machinery to produce the proteins encoded by their genes. Controlling translation initiation is important for gaining translational advantage in conflicts between the host and virus. The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) has been reported to be hijacked by potyviruses for virus multiplication. The role of translation regulation in defence and anti-defence between plants and viruses is not well understood. We report that the transcript level of eIF6 was markedly increased in turnip mosaic virus (TuMV)-infected Nicotiana benthamiana. TuMV infection was impaired by overexpression of N. benthamiana eIF6 (NbeIF6) either transiently expressed in leaves or stably expressed in transgenic plants. Polysome profile assays showed that overexpression of NbeIF6 caused the accumulation of 40S and 60S ribosomal subunits, the reduction of polysomes, and also compromised TuMV UTR-mediated translation, indicating a defence role for upregulated NbeIF6 during TuMV infection. However, the polysome profile in TuMV-infected leaves was not identical to that in leaves overexpressing NbeIF6. Further analysis showed that TuMV NIb protein, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, interacted with NbeIF6 and interfered with its effect on the ribosomal subunits, suggesting that NIb might have a counterdefence role. The results propose a possible regulatory mechanism at the translation level during plant-virus interaction.

Inhibition mechanism of fusarium graminearum growth by g-C3N4 homojunction and its application in barley malting.

The increase of deoxynivalenol (DON) caused by Fusarium graminearum (F. graminearum) during the malting process is a serious safety problem. In our work, the inhibition mechanism of F. graminearum growth by g-C3N4 homojunction and its application in barley malting were studied. The reason why the growth activity of F. graminearum decreased after photocatalysis by g-C3N4 homojunction was that under visible light irradiation, a large amount of •O2- elicited by g-C3N4 homojunction destroyed the cell structure of F. graminearum, leading to the deficiency of cell membrane selective permeability and serious disorder of intracellular metabolism. The application of photocatalysis technology in malting can effectively inhibit the growth of F. graminearum and the accumulation of ergosterol was reduced by 30.55 %, thus reducing the DON content in finished malt by 31.82 %. Meanwhile, the physicochemical indexes of barley malt after photocatalytic treatment still met the requirements of second class barley malt in Chinese light industry standard QB/T 1686-2008. Our work provides a new idea for the control of fungal contamination in barley malt.

Self-Balancing Exoskeleton Robots Designed to Facilitate Multiple Rehabilitation Training Movements.

This study presents the biomimetic design of the structure and controller of AutoLEE-II, a self-balancing exoskeleton developed to assist patients in performing multiple rehabilitation movements without crutches or other supporting equipment. Its structural design is founded upon the human body structure, with an eliminated axis deviation and a raised CoM of the exoskeleton. The controller is a physical parameter-independent controller based on the CoM modification. Thus, the exoskeleton can adapt to patients with different physical parameters. Five subjects underwent exoskeleton-assisted rehabilitation training experiments, including squatting, tilting, and walking trainings. The results showed that the exoskeleton can assist patients in completing various rehabilitation exercises and help them maintain their balance during the rehabilitation training. This helpful role of the exoskeleton in rehabilitation training is analyzed through an electromyography (EMG) data analysis. The findings revealed that wearing the exoskeleton can reduce the activity of the lower limb muscles by approximately 20-30% when performing the same rehabilitation exercises.

The effects of living arrangements and leisure activities on depressive symptoms of Chinese older adults: Evidence from panel data analysis.

BACKGROUND: Livable environment and ways, as the necessary conditions for the elderly to enjoy their old age, have a significant impact on their mental health and happiness. It's crucial to understand how living arrangements affect depressive symptoms in China. Studies on how various leisure activities modify this association are yet limited. METHODS: This study relies on panel data derived from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), collected during waves spanning 2008/2009, 2011/2012, 2014, and 2018. The primary objective is to examine the relationship between living arrangements, leisure activities, and depressive symptoms of elderly individuals. Linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: A total of 26,342 observations aged 65 and over were included in this paper. Older adults living alone (ß = 0.66, 95 % CI: 0.55, 0.76) or living in institutions (ß = 0.69, 95 % CI: 0.40, 0.98) had more depressive symptoms than those living with family. Leisure activities were negatively associated with depressive symptoms (ß = -0.16, 95 % CI: -0.18, -0.15). Moreover, there was significant interactions between living arrangements and leisure activities. No matter which kind of living arrangements, participating in physical, productive or social activity was associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms. LIMITATIONS: Study design might introduce bias, and it cannot establish causality between the tested variables. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults living alone or in institutions have more possibility to develop depressive symptoms than those living with family, and such a relationship among Chinese older adults can be moderated by participating in leisure activities.

Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Gas Detection Technology Research Progress.

Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) can be utilized as an ultrasensitive gas detection method. The basic principles of gas detection using PAS are discussed in this paper. First, the basic instrumentation for a PAS gas detection system is introduced focusing on the photoacoustic cell. The discussion includes non-resonant photoacoustic cells and the different types of resonant photoacoustic cells, including the longitudinal photoacoustic cell, the Helmholtz photoacoustic cell, the T-type photoacoustic cell, and the high-frequency resonant photoacoustic cell. The basic working principles of each of these, cells as well as the advantages and disadvantages of photoacoustic cells are discussed, and the development of newer types of photoacoustic cells in recent years is outlined in detail. This review provides detailed reference information and guidance for interested researchers who would like to design and build advanced photoacoustic cells for gas detection.

Epigenetic modulations of immune cells: from normal development to tumor progression.

The dysfunction of immune cell development often impairs immunological homeostasis, thus causing various human diseases. Accumulating evidence shows that the development of different immune cells from hematopoietic stem cells are highly fine-tuned by different epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling and RNA-related regulations. Understanding how epigenetic regulators modulate normal development of immune cells contributes to the identification of new strategies for various diseases. Here, we review recent advances suggesting that epigenetic modulations can orchestrate immune cell development and functions through their impact on critical gene expression. We also discuss the aberrations of epigenetic modulations in immune cells that influence tumor progression, and the fact that underlying mechanisms affect how epigenetic drugs interfere with tumor progression in the clinic.

Geological timescales' aging effects of lunar glasses.

Physical aging is a long-lasting research hot spot in the glass community, yet its long-term effects remain unclear because of the limited experimental time. In this study, we discover the extraordinary aging effects in five typical lunar glassy particles with diameters ranging from about 20 to 53 micrometers selected from Chang'e-5 lunar regolith. It is found that geological time scales' aging can lead to unusually huge modulus enhancements larger than 73.5% while much weaker effects on hardness (i.e., varies decoupling evolutions of Young's modulus and hardness during aging) in these lunar glassy samples. Such extraordinary aging effects are primarily attributed to the natural selected complex glassy compositions and structures, consistent with high entropy and minor element doping criteria, prevailing under the special lunar conditions and the extensive aging time for the lunar glasses. This study offers valuable insights for developing high-performance and stable glassy materials for radiation protection and advanced space explorations.

Predicted superconductivity in one-dimensional A3Hf2B3-type electrides.

Inorganic electrides are considered potential superconductors due to the unique properties of their anionic electrons. However, most electrides require external high-pressure conditions to exhibit considerable superconducting transition temperatures (Tc). Therefore, searching for superconducting electrides under low or moderate external pressures is of significant research interest and importance. In this work, a series of A3Hf2B3-type compounds (A = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba; B = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) were constructed and systematically studied based on density functional theory calculations. According to the analysis of the electronic structures and phonon dispersion spectrums, stable one-dimensional electrides Ca3Hf2Ge3, Ca3Hf2Sn3, and Sr3Hf2Pb3, were screened out. Interestingly, the superconductivity of these electrides were predicted from electron phonon coupling calculations. It is highlighted that Sr3Hf2Pb3 showed the highest Tc, reaching 4.02 K, while the Tc values of Ca3Hf2Ge3 and Ca3Hf2Sn3 were 1.16 K and 1.04 K, respectively. Moreover, the Tc value of Ca3Hf2Ge3 can be increased to 1.96 K under 20 GPa due to the effect of phonon softening. This work enriches the types of superconducting electrides and has important guiding significance for the research on constructing electrides and related superconducting materials.

Hepatorenal pathologies in TNF-transgenic mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis are alleviated by anti-TNF treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To examine and quantify liver and kidney lesions and their response to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy in a TNF-Tg mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Female TNF-Tg (Tg3647) mice were used as the animal model for chronic RA. Ultrasound, immunofluorescence, histological staining, serology tests, and real-time RT-PCR were used to examine the pathological changes in the liver and kidney. RESULTS: TNF-Tg mice showed a significant decrease in the body weight and a dramatic increase in the volumes of the gallbladder, knee cavity, and popliteal lymph nodes. The liver and kidneys of TNF-Tg mice showed increased chronic inflammation and accumulation of immune cells and fibrosis, compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Moreover, upregulation of inflammatory factors and impaired normal function were observed in the liver and kidneys of TNF-Tg mice. Inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis of the liver and kidneys of female TNF-Tg mice were improved after anti-TNF treatment, and better treatment effects were achieved at 4.5-month-old mice when they were received 8 weeks of intervention. CONCLUSIONS: We found that TNF drives the development of liver and kidney pathology in female TNF-Tg mice and that there are limitations to the loss of utility of anti-TNF for the prolonged treatment of RA-associated hepatic and renal injury. This study provides a reliable and clinically relevant animal model for further studies exploring the molecular mechanisms and drug discovery for hepatorenal pathologies in RA.

Synthesis, structures and properties of two donor-acceptor acridone-based compounds.

Two donor-acceptor acridone-based compounds, namely, 2-{10-[4-(diphenylamino)phenyl]acridin-9-ylidene}malononitrile (TPA-AD-DCN), C34H22N4, and 2-{10-[4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)phenyl]acridin-9-ylidene}malononitrile (CzPh-AD-DCN), C34H20N4, have been synthesized in high yield and their structures determined. TPA-AD-DCN and CzPh-AD-DCN crystallized in the centrosymmetric space groups P-1 and P21/c, respectively. Both molecules adopt a `butterfly-like' configuration of the common part of the structure and differences occur within the substituents on the acridine N atom. A Hirshfeld surface analysis showed that the H...H and C...H/H...C contacts constitute a high percentage of the intermolecular interactions. The optical and electrochemical properties, as well as theoretical calculations, of TPA-AD-DCN and CzPh-AD-DCN support the structural characterization of these materials. As crystallization-induced emission materials, TPA-AD-DCN and CzPh-AD-DCN are anticipated to be of potential use in the construction of promising optoelectronic materials.

The mediating roles of coping styles and academic burnout in the relationship between stressors and depressive symptoms among Chinese postgraduates.

Background: Since few studies have incorporated factors like stressors, coping styles, and academic burnout into the same model to analyze their impacts on depressive symptoms, this research attempts to establish an optimal structural model to explore the direct and indirect effects of these factors on depressive symptoms. Methods: A total of 266 postgraduates completed questionnaires regarding coping styles, academic burnout, stressors, and depressive symptoms. The path analysis was applied for investigating the roles of coping styles and academic burnout in mediating the relationship between stressors and depressive symptoms. Results: The total and direct effects of stressors on depressive symptoms were 0.53 and 0.31, respectively. The proportion of the direct effect of stressors on depressive symptoms to its total effect amounted to 58.50%. The indirect effects of academic burnout, positive coping style, and negative coping style on the association between stressors and depressive symptoms were 0.11, 0.04, and 0.03, taking up 20.75%, 7.55%, and 5.66% of the total effect, respectively. The serial indirect effect of positive coping style and academic burnout was 0.02, accounting for 3.77% of the total effect, while that of negative coping style and academic burnout was 0.02, taking up 3.77% of the total effect. Conclusions: Coping styles and academic burnout chain jointly mediate the relationship between stressors and depressive symptoms among postgraduates. Thus, encouraging postgraduates to tackle stress positively may reduce the likelihood of the development of academic burnout and further reduce depressive symptoms.

Spine Surgery with Electronic Conductivity Device: A Prospectively Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial and Literature Review.

OBJECTIVE: Improving accuracy and safety of pedicle screw placement is of great clinical importance. Electronic conductivity device (ECD) can be a promising technique with features of affordability, portability, and real-time detection capabilities. This study aimed to validate the safety and effectiveness of a modified ECD. METHODS: The ECD underwent a modification where six lamps of various colors, and it was utilized in a prospectively multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial involving 96 patients across three hospitals from June 2018 to December 2018. The trial incorporated a self-control randomization with an equal distribution of left or right side of vertebral pedicle among two groups: the free-hand group and the ECD group. A total of 496 pedicle screws were inserted, with 248 inserted in each group. The primary outcomes focused on the accuracy of pedicle screw placement and the frequency of intraoperative X-rays. Meanwhile, the secondary indicator measured the time required for pedicle screw placement. Results were presented as means ± SD. Paired samples t-test and χ2 -test were used for comparison. Furthermore, an updated review was conducted, which included studies published from 2006 onwards. RESULTS: Baseline patient characteristics were recorded. The primary accuracy outcome revealed a 96.77% accuracy rate in the ECD group, compared to a 95.16% accuracy rate in the free-hand group, with no significant differences noted. In contrast, ECD demonstrated a significant reduction in radiation exposure frequency when compared to the free-hand group (1.11 ± 0.32 vs. 1.30 ± 0.53; p < 0.001), resulting in a 14.6% reduction. Moreover, ECD displayed a decrease of 30.38% in insertion time (70.88 ± 30.51 vs. 101.82 ± 54.00 s; p < 0.001). According to the results of the 21 studies, ECD has been utilized in various areas of the spine such as the atlas, thoracic and lumbar spine, as well as sacral 2-alar-iliac. The accuracy of ECD ranged from 85% to 100%. CONCLUSION: The prospectively randomized trial and the review indicate that the use of ECD presents a secure and precise approach to the placement of pedicle screws, with the added benefit of reducing both procedure time and radiation exposure.

iTRAQ-based protein profiling and functional identification of four genes involved in rice basal resistance against Magnaporthe oryzae in two contrasting rice genotypes.

Rice blast, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, is one of the most destructive rice diseases. Developing blast-resistant rice cultivars represents the most economical and environmentally friend strategy for managing the disease. In our previous study, an isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based comparative protein quantification was carried out to investigate the resistance gene Piz-t gene-mediated resistance response to infection in two contrasting rice genotypes of the Piz-t transgenic Nipponbare line (NPB-Piz-t) and its wild-type Nipponbare (NPB). Here, from the comparisons of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) of NPB-Piz-t to the avirulent isolate KJ201 (KJ201-Piz-t)and the virulent isolate RB22 (RB22-Piz-t) with mock-treated NPB-Piz-t (Mock-Piz-t), NPB to the virulent isolate KJ201(KJ201-NPB) and RB22 (RB22-NPB) with mock-treated NPB (Mock-NPB), 1, 1, and 6 common DEPs were, respectively, identified at 24, 48 and 72 h post-inoculation (hpi) in the susceptible comparisons of RB22-Pizt/Mock-Piz-t, KJ201-NPB/Mock-NPB, and RB22-NPB/Mock-NPB, involving in gi|54,290,836 and gi|59,800,021 were identified in the resistance comparison KJ201-Piz-t/Mock-Piz-t at 48 and 72 hpi respectively. Moreover, four genes of Os01g0138900 (gi|54,290,836), Os04g0659300 (gi|59,800,021), Os09g0315700 (gi|125,563,186) or Os04g0394200 (gi|21,740,743) were knocked out or overexpressed in NPB using gene over-expression and CRISPR/Cas9 technology, and results verified that the Os01g0138900 obviously affected the rice blast resistance. Further, expression and targeted metabolomics analysis illuminated the resistance response of cysteine-containing substances as gi|59,800,021 under blast infection. These results provide new targets for basal resistance gene identification and open avenues for developing novel rice blast resistant materials.

Mechanistic Elucidation of Activation/Deactivation Signal Transduction within Neurotensin Receptor 1 Triggered by 'Driver Chemical Groups' of Modulators: A Comparative Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

Small-molecule modulators of neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1), a class A G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), has emerged as promising therapeutic agent for psychiatric disorders and cancer. Interestingly, a chemical group substitution in NTSR1 modulators can launch different types of downstream regulation, highlighting the significance of deciphering the internal fine-tuning mechanism. Here, we conducted a synergistic application of a Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics simulation, a conventional molecular dynamics simulation, and Markov state models (MSM) to investigate the underlying mechanism of 'driver chemical groups' of modulators triggering inverse signaling. The results indicated that the flexibility of the leucine moiety in NTSR1 agonists contributes to the inward displacement of TM7 through a loosely coupled allosteric pathway, while the rigidity of the adamantane moiety in NTSR1 antagonists leads to unfavorable downward transduction of agonistic signaling. Furthermore, we found that R3226.54, Y3196.51, F3537.42, R1483.32, S3567.45, and S3577.46 may play a key role in inducing the activation of NTSR1. Together, our findings not only highlight the ingenious signal transduction within class A GPCRs but also lay a foundation for the development of targeted drugs harboring different regulatory functions of NTSR1.

The rational design of high-performance graphene-based single-atom electrocatalysts for the ORR using machine learning.

In this work, high-performance two-dimensional (2D) graphene-based single-atom electrocatalysts (ZZ/ZA-MNxCy) for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were screened out using machine learning (ML). A model was built for the fast prediction of electrocatalysts and two descriptors valence electron correction (VEc) and degree of construction differences (DC) were proposed to improve the accuracy of the model prediction. Two evaluation criteria, high-performance catalyst retention rate rR and high-performance catalyst occupancy rate rO, were proposed to evaluate the accuracy of ML models in high-performance catalyst screening. The addition of VEc and DC in the model could change the mean absolute error (MAEtest) of the test set, the coefficient of determination (R2test) of the test set, rO, and rR from 0.334 V, 0.683, 0.222, and 0.360 to 0.271 V, 0.774, 0.421, and 0.671, respectively. The partially screened potential high-performance ORR electrocatalysts such as ZZ-CoN4 and ZZ-CoN3C1 were also further investigated using a Density Functional Theory (DFT) method, which confirmed the accuracy of the ML model (MAE = 0.157 V, R2 = 0.821).

Realization of an autonomously controllable process for atomic layer deposition and its encapsulation application in flexible organic light-emitting diodes.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD), an emerging method of thin film fabrication, has recently witnessed a surge of applications in the optoelectronics field. However, reliable processes capable of controlling film composition have yet to be developed. In this work, the effect of precursor partial pressure and steric hindrance on the surface activity was presented and analyzed in detail, which led to the development of a component tailoring process for ALD composition control in intralayer for the first time. Further, a homogeneous organic/inorganic hybrid film was successfully grown. The component unit of the hybrid film under the joint action of EG and O plasma could achieve arbitrary ratios by controlling the EG/O plasma surface reaction ratio via varied partial pressures. Film growth parameters (growth rate per cycle and mass gain per cycle) and physical properties (density, refractive index, residual stress, transmission, and surface morphology) could be modulated as desired. Moreover, the hybrid film with low residual stress was effectively used in the encapsulation of flexible organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Such a component tailoring process is an important step forward in ALD technology, and allowing for in-situ control of thin film components at the atomic level in intralayer.