Flexoelectricity, as a fundamental electromechanical coupling effect between electric polarization and mechanical strain gradient, or vice versa between electric polarization gradient and mechanical ...gradient, exists in various categories of materials including solid materials, liquid crystals, polymers, and biomembranes. Dependence of electric or mechanical gradients on geometry requires the adoption of specific structures for different flexoelectric mode applications. Scaling effect associated with gradient suggests that flexoelectric effect can be more significant in micro/nano systems, comparable to or even exceed piezoelectricity. In this review, flexoelectricity in those studied materials will be summarized and compared. Applications in sensors, actuators, capability of tuning the ferroelectric thin film properties, and roles in bio-system mechanosensitivity and mechanotranduction of flexoelectricity will be introduced respectively. Especially, flexoelectricity nano-generator enlightens a new technique for energy harvesting. Comparison with piezoelectric nano-generator suggests that flexoelectric counterpart can yield enhanced performance with specific nanostructures and provide a wider materials choice.
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•Flexoelectricity in different materials were summarized in aspects of origin interpretations, coefficient definitions, specific structures and experimental characterization methods.•Scaling effect enables flexoelectric to be potential for nanogenerators applications in comparison with piezoelectric counterpart.•Flexoelectric sensing, actuating, effect on ferroelectric thin film properties, and roles in bio-system mechanotranduction were reviewed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
To determine the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
This is a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies. The literature ...search included two databases (PubMed and Embase) and the reference lists of the retrieved studies. Separate meta-analyses for case-control studies and cohort studies were conducted using random-effects models, with results reported as adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and relative risks (RRs), respectively.
Thirteen studies--seven case-control studies and six population-based cohort studies--were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled RR of the association between DM and POAG based on the risk estimates of the six cohort studies was 1.40 (95% CI, 1.25-1.57). The pooled OR of the association between DM and POAG based on the risk estimates of the seven case-control studies was 1.49 (95% CI, 1.17-1.88). There was considerable heterogeneity among the case-control studies that reported an association between DM mellitus and POAG (P<0.001) and no significant heterogeneity among the cohort studies (P = 0.377). After omitting the case-control study that contributed significantly to the heterogeneity, the pooled OR for the association between DM and POAG was 1.35 (95% CI, 1.06-1.74).
Individuals with DM have an increased risk of developing POAG.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study aimed to explore the influence of the interaction between vitamin D level and blood uric acid level on protein-energy wasting (PEW) in patients with Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), in ...order to provide a solution for disease prevention. For this aim, a total of 150 patients with maintenance hemodialysis aged 30-79 years in a hospital were included in the study. The logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between vitamin D level, blood uric acid level and PEW, and the additive interaction was evaluated by calculating the relative excess risk ratio (RERI) attributive ratio (AP) and synergy index (S) of the interaction. Finally, the ROC curve was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic value of vitamin D level and blood uric acid level for PEW. In this study, the detection rate of PEW was 68%, low vitamin D level was 57.33%, and high blood uric acid level was 64.67%. Compared with non-low vitamin D levels, the PEW risk was OR=16.794, 95%CI: 4.973-60.356; Compared with those without high uric acid levels, the PEW risk was OR=7.599, 95%CI: 2.460-23.468. However, there was no multiplicative interaction between the two on PEW risk (OR=0.345, 95%CI: 0.060-1.983, P=0.233). In the additive interaction analysis, the PEW risk OR=43.992,95%CI: 12.795-151.253, higher than those with only high uric acid levels or only low vitamin D levels, the combination of the two had a summative interaction with PEW risk, with a RERI of 20.599 (95%CI: -26.158-67.356) API was 0.468 (-0.159-1.095) and S was 1.920 (0.569-6.483). In conclusion, both vitamin D deficiency and high uric acid levels were associated with an increased risk of PEW in MHD patients, and low vitamin D and high uric acid levels had a summative interaction with protein-energy expenditure risk.
Persistent luminescence is a fascinating phenomenon with exceptional applications. However, the development of organic materials capable of persistent luminescence, such as organic persistent ...room-temperature phosphorescence, lags behind for their normally low efficiency. Moreover, enhancing the phosphorescence efficiency of organic luminophores often results in short lifetime, which sets an irreconcilable obstacle. Here we report a strategy to boost the efficiency of phosphorescence by intramolecular triplet-triplet energy transfer. Incorpotation of (bromo)dibenzofuran or (bromo)dibenzothiophene to carbazole has boosted the intersystem crossing and provided an intramolecular triplet-state bridge to offer a near quantitative exothermic triplet-triplet energy transfer to repopulate the lowest triplet-state of carbazole. All these factors work together to contribute the efficient phosphorescence. The generation and transfer of triplet excitons within a single molecule is revealed by low-temperature spectra, energy level and lifetime investigations. The strategy developed here will enable the development of efficient phosphorescent materials for potential high-tech applications.
Purpose
To assess the efficacy and safety of different regimens, including monotherapy and double therapy, for primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension.
Methods
We searched PubMed, ...EMBASE and clinicaltrials.gov for studies that fit our inclusion criteria in this network meta‐analysis. Randomized controlled trials that report data on efficacy and safety of medications for POAG or ocular hypertension are included. Data on intra‐ocular pressure (IOP) lowering effect and incidence of adverse events including hyperaemia and ocular discomfort were extracted and used in mixed‐comparison analysis.
Results
This study includes 72 randomized trials. Data were available on 12 medical treatments of POAG or ocular hypertension. Of 66 possible comparisons of outcome efficacy, 15 treatments were compared directly. Compared to prostaglandin analogues (PGA), beta‐blockers (BB) showed relatively weaker ability to lower IOP, followed by α2‐adrenergic agonists (AA) and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAI). For dual therapy, regimens composed of a combination of PGA with another treatment demonstrated more powerful IOP lowering efficacy, while the combination of two non‐PGA drugs had lower efficacy in controlling IOP than PGA alone. There was no statistical significance in combinations that did not include PGA on efficacy of IOP control. In terms of tolerance, PGA alone leads to more severe hyperaemia than any other monotherapy regimen, while BBs have the lowest effect on the incidence of hyperaemia. Most dual therapy regimens containing PGA also lead to serious hyperaemia, with the exception of PGA + AA. Compared to regimens containing PGA, those with BB are less likely to cause hyperaemia.
Conclusion
Our network meta‐analysis showed that PGAs provide best IOP lowering effect among all the monotherapy regimen. Combination of PGA and other category of drugs leads to better IOP decrease. Combination of BB and another non‐PGA drug may have less ocular side‐effects than PGA alone.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Sorafenib is a first-line molecular-target drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and reducing sorafenib resistance is an important issue to be resolved for the clinical treatment of HCC. ...In the current study, we identified that ABCC5 is a critical regulator and a promising therapeutic target of acquired sorafenib resistance in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The expression of ABCC5 was dramatically induced in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells and was remarkably associated with poor clinical prognoses. The down-regulation of ABCC5 expression could significantly reduce the resistance of sorafenib to HCC cells. Importantly, activation of PI3K/AKT/NRF2 axis was essential for sorafenib to induce ABCC5 expression. ABCC5 increased intracellular glutathione (GSH) and attenuated lipid peroxidation accumulation by stabilizing SLC7A11 protein, which inhibited ferroptosis. Additionally, the inhibition of ABCC5 enhanced the anti-cancer activity of sorafenib in vitro and in vivo. These findings demonstrate a novel molecular mechanism of acquired sorafenib resistance and also suggest that ABCC5 is a new regulator of ferroptosis in HCC cells.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The silver‐catalyzed oxidative C(sp3)−H/P−H cross‐coupling of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with H‐phosphonates, followed by a chemo‐ and regioselective C(sp3)−C(CO) bond‐cleavage step, provided heavily ...functionalized β‐ketophosphonates. This novel method based on a readily available reaction system exhibits wide scope, high functional‐group tolerance, and exclusive selectivity.
A silver trigger: A wide range of β‐ketophosphonates were synthesized readily by a silver‐catalyzed transformation involving the oxidative C(sp3)−H/ P−H cross‐coupling of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds with H‐phosphonates and tandem exclusive C(sp3)−C(CO) bond cleavage (see scheme). The base‐, ligand‐, and additive‐free procedure has the additional advantages of a simple catalyst system and good functional‐group tolerance.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Phototheranostic agents have thrived as promising tools for cancer theranostics because of the integration of sensitive in situ fluorescence imaging and effective multi‐model synergistic therapy. ...However, how to manipulate the intangible photon energy transfer to balance the competitive radiative and nonradiative processes is still challenging. Although numerous phototheranostic molecules are reported, their complicated molecular design and tedious synthesis often stumble further their development. Herein, three simple molecules with electron donating−accepting structures are developed. The electron acceptor engineering on molecules by introducing acridinium unit gives rise to TPEDCAc with aggregation‐induced second near‐infrared emission (AIE NIR‐II), high reactive oxygen species generation capability, and excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (44.8%) due to the drastic intramolecular motion of large acridinium rotor and balanced AIE effect. Experimental analysis and calculation on the controlled molecules suggested that large torsional angle and the strong electron‐withdrawing ability of the acridinium unit are keys for NIR‐II emission and balanced photodynamic/photothermal conversion. Impressively, the positively charged TPEDCAc shows mitochondria‐targeting capability and high performance in in vivo multi‐modal cancer theranostics under NIR laser irradiation. Hence, this work not only provides a single NIR‐II AIE‐based multi‐modal cancer theranostic system but inspires new insights into future development of new theranostic platforms.
An acceptor engineering strategy for modulating intramolecular motion is proposed for developing phototheranostic agents. By manipulating torsional angle and electron‐withdrawing ability of acceptors, balance of competing radiative and nonradiative processes can be achieved to afford TPEDCAc with aggregation‐induced second near‐infrared emission, high reactive oxygen species generation capability, and excellent photothermal conversion efficiency for developing a promising multi‐model cancer phototheranostic system.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
A unique freestanding nickel (Ni) metallic mesh-based electromagnetic interference shielding film has been fabricated though the direct-writing technique and a subsequent selective metal ...electrodeposited process. The structured freestanding Ni mesh film demonstrates a series of advantages, including ultrathin thickness (2.5-6.0 μm) and ultralight weight (0.23 mg cm
), extraordinary optoelectronic performance (sheet resistance about 0.24-0.7 Ω sq
with transparency of 92%-93%), high figure of merit (18000) and outstanding flexibility as it can withstand folding, rolling and crumpling into various shapes while keeping the conductivity constant. Furthermore, by using this high-performance Ni mesh, an ultrathin, lightweight, freestanding and transparent electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI) film with extraordinary optoelectronic properties (shielding effectiveness about 40 dB with transparency of 92%) is demonstrated in X-band, with no performance attenuation observed even in bending state. This freestanding metallic mesh-structured electrode can be further explored or applied in various potential applications, such as conformal microwave antennas, transparent EMI windows, and wearable electronics.
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