Hole‐transporting materials (HTMs) play a significant role in hole transport and extraction for perovskite solar cells (PeSCs). As an important type of HTMs, the spiro‐architecture‐based material is ...widely used as small organic HTM in PeSCs with good photovoltaic performances. The skeletal modification of spiro‐based HTMs is a critical way of modifying energy level and hole mobility. Thus, many spiro alternatives are developed to optimize the spiro‐type HTMs. Herein, a novel carbazole‐based single‐spiro‐HTM named SCZF‐5 is designed and prepared for efficient PeSCs. In addition, another single‐spiro HTM SAF‐5 with reported 10‐phenyl‐10H‐spiroacridine‐9,9′‐fluorene (SAF) core is also synthesized for comparison. Through varying from SAF core to SCZF core as well as comparing with the classic 9,9′‐spiro‐bifluorene, it is found that the new HTM SCZF‐5 exhibits more impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.10% than SAF‐5 (13.93%) and the commercial HTM spiro‐OMeTAD (19.11%). On the other hand, the SCZF‐5‐based device also has better durability in lifetime testing, indicating the newly designed SCZF by integrating carbazole into the spiro concept has good potential for developing effective HTMs.
Two novel spiro‐type hole‐transporting materials (HTMs) SCZF‐5 and SAF‐5 are designed based on different spiro‐cores, SZCF and SAF, respectively, and are applied in the perovskite solar cells. An impressive power conversion efficiency of 20.10% is achieved in the SCZF‐5‐based device, which is obviously higher than that of commercial HTM spiro‐OMeTAD (19.11%) and SAF‐5 (13.93%).
Transmission from an infected mosquito to a host is an essential process in the life cycle of mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Numerous studies have demonstrated that mosquito saliva facilitates viral ...transmission. Here we find that a saliva-specific protein, named Aedes aegypti venom allergen-1 (AaVA-1), promotes dengue and Zika virus transmission by activating autophagy in host immune cells of the monocyte lineage. The AG6 mice (ifnar1
ifngr1
) bitten by the virus-infected AaVA-1-deficient mosquitoes present a lower viremia and prolonged survival. AaVA-1 intracellularly interacts with a dominant negative binder of Beclin-1, known as leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein (LRPPRC), and releases Beclin-1 from LRPPRC-mediated sequestration, thereby enabling the initialization of downstream autophagic signaling. A deficiency in Beclin-1 reduces viral infection in mice and abolishes AaVA-1-mediated enhancement of ZIKV transmission by mosquitoes. Our study provides a mechanistic insight into saliva-aided viral transmission and could offer a potential prophylactic target for reducing flavivirus transmission.
Summary
Given the rapid increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases in aging populations, this prospective study including 17 707 adults aged ≥45 years from China Health and Retirement ...Longitudinal Study was used to estimate the associations between chronic disease, multimorbidity, and depression among middle-aged and elderly adults in China, and explore the mediating factors. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) questionnaire. Twelve chronic physical conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, cancer, chronic lung disease, liver disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney disease, arthritis or rheumatism, asthma, digestive disease were assessed. The prevalence rates for physical multimorbidity and depression (CES-D-10 ≥10) were 43.23% and 36.62%, respectively. Through multivariable logistic models and generalized estimating equation (GEE) models, we found all 12 chronic physical conditions, and multimorbidity were significantly associated with depression. Both mobility problems and chronic pain explained more than 30% of the association for all chronic conditions, with particularly high percentages for stroke (51.56%) and cancer (51.06%) in mobility problems and cancer (53.35%) in chronic pain. Limited activities of daily living (ADL) explained 34.60% of the stroke-cancer relationship, while sleep problems explained between 10.15% (stroke) and 14.89% (chronic lung disease) of the association. Individuals with chronic diseases or multimorbidity are significantly more likely to be depressed. Functional symptoms involving limitations of ADL and mobility difficulties mediated much of the association between chronic diseases and incident depression. These symptoms could be targeted for interventions to ameliorate the incidence of depression among individuals with chronic conditions.
Background
Dual‐phenotype hepatocellular carcinoma (DPHCC) is highly aggressive and difficult to distinguish from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Purpose
To develop and validate clinical and ...radiomics models based on contrast‐enhanced MRI for the preoperative diagnosis of DPHCC.
Study type
Retrospective.
Population
A total of 87 patients with DPHCC and 92 patients with non‐DPHCC randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 125: 64 non‐DPHCC; 61 DPHCC) and a validation cohort (n = 54: 28 non‐DPHCC; 26 DPHCC).
Field Strength/Sequence
A 3.0 T; dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI with time‐resolved T1‐weighted imaging sequence.
Assessment
In the clinical model, the maximum tumor diameter and hepatitis B virus (HBV) were independent risk factors of DPHCC. In the radiomics model, a total of 1781 radiomics features were extracted from tumor volumes of interest (VOIs) in the arterial phase (AP) and portal venous phase (PP) images. For feature reduction and selection, Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) and recursive feature elimination (RFE) were used. Clinical, AP, PP, and combined radiomics models were established using machine learning algorithms (support vector machine SVM, logistic regression LR, and logistic regression‐least absolute shrinkage and selection operator LR‐LASSO) and their discriminatory efficacy assessed and compared.
Statistical Tests
The independent sample t test, Mann–Whitney U test, Chi‐square test, regression analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, the Delong test. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
In the validation cohort, the combined radiomics model (area under the curve AUC = 0.908, 95% confidence interval CI: 0.831–0.985) showed the highest diagnostic performance. The AUCs of the PP (AUC = 0.879, 95% CI: 0.779–0.979) and combined radiomics models were significantly higher than that of clinical model (AUC = 0.685, 95% CI: 0.526–0.844). There were no significant differences in AUC between AP or PP radiomics model and combined radiomics model (P = 0.286, 0.180 and 0.543).
Conclusion
MRI radiomics models may be useful for discriminating DPHCC from non‐DPHCC before surgery.
Evidence Level
4
Technical Efficacy
Stage 2
Chronic pain is a major clinical problem with limited treatment options. Previous studies have demonstrated that activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) can attenuate ...neuropathic pain. Inflammation/immune response at the site of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) injection is known to be a critical trigger of the pathological changes that produce inflammatory pain. However, whether activation of AMPK produces an analgesic effect through inhibiting the proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), in inflammatory pain remains unknown.
Inflammatory pain was induced in mice injected with CFA. The effects of AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxyamide ribonucleoside, an AMPK activator), Compound C (an AMPK inhibitor), and IL-1ra (an IL-1 receptor antagonist) were tested at day 4 after CFA injection. Inflammatory pain was assessed with von Frey filaments and hot plate. Immunoblotting, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and immunofluorescence were used to assess inflammation-induced biochemical changes.
The AMPK activator AICAR produced an analgesic effect and inhibited the level of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β in the inflamed skin in mice. Moreover, activation of AMPK suppressed CFA-induced NF-κB p65 translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus in activated macrophages (CD68
and CX3CR1
) of inflamed skin tissues. Subcutaneous injection of IL-1ra attenuated CFA-induced inflammatory pain. The AMPK inhibitor Compound C and AMPKα shRNA reversed the analgesic effect of AICAR and the effects of AICAR on IL-1β and NF-κB activation in inflamed skin tissues.
Our study provides new information that AMPK activation produces the analgesic effect by inhibiting NF-κB activation and reducing the expression of IL-1β in inflammatory pain.
External stimuli triggering chemical reactions in cancer cells to generate highly reactive chemical species are very appealing for cancer therapy, in which external irradiation activating sensitizers ...to transfer energy or electrons to surrounding oxygen or other molecules is critical for generating cytotoxic reactive species. However, poor light penetration into tissue, low activity of sensitizers, and reliance on oxygen supply restrict the generation of cytotoxic chemical species in hypoxic tumors, which lowers the therapeutic efficacy. Here, this work presents galvanic cell nanomaterials that can directly release highly reactive electrons in tumors without external irradiation or photosensitizers. The released reactive electrons directly react with surrounding biomolecules such as proteins and DNA within tumors to destroy them or react with other surrounding (bio)molecules to yield cytotoxic chemical species to eliminate tumors independent of oxygen. Administering these nanogalvanic cells to mice results in almost complete remission of subcutaneous solid tumors and deep metastatic tumors. The results demonstrate that this strategy can further arouse an immune response even in a hypoxic environment. This method offers a promising approach to effectively eliminate tumors, similar to photodynamic therapy, but does not require oxygen or irradiation to activate photosensitizers.
Nanogalvanic cells that can continuously release highly reactive electrons to tumors in the tumor microenvironment have been developed. These electrons can react with surrounding biomolecules within tumors, not only destroying these molecules but also generating highly cytotoxic reactive species independent of oxygen to kill cancer cells. This innovative therapy effectively eliminates tumors and provides immune surveillance for cured mice.
In this study, the effect of nitrogen on microstructural evolution and Charpy impact energy of CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) was investigated, and the corresponding fracture mechanism was ...revealed. Nitrogen atoms fully dissolved into the matrix and markedly increased the Charpy impact energy of 0.52 N alloy. The fracture morphologies of the 0 N and 0.52 N alloys were both featured with typical ductile fracture mode, while the serpentine glide morphology of 0.52 N alloy covered wider areas than that of 0 N alloy. Besides, the crack propagation path of 0 N alloy was relatively linear and flat, yet the zigzag crack propagation path was frequently deflected for 0.52 N alloy. The microstructure characterization indicated that the synergistic effect of the increased dislocation density and the more evenly distributed slip system contributed to the enhancement in impact toughness of 0.52 N alloy.
•Contribution of nitrogen to impact toughness with relatively high strain rate of CoCrFeMnNi HEA was studied.•Nitrogen atoms fully dissolved in the matrix and no nitride was detected.•The essential reasons for improving the Charpy impact energy through nitrogen doping were revealed.•The increased dislocation density and more evenly distributed slip system improved impact toughness of 0.52 N alloy.
Non‐small–cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most prevalent type of lung cancers with an increased mortality rate in both developed and developing countries worldwide. Dieckol is one such ...polyphenolic drug extracted from brown algae which has proven antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. In the present study, we evaluated the anticancer property of dieckol against NSCLC cell line A549. The LC50 value of dieckol was found to be 25 µg/mL by performing 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the antiapoptotic property of dieckol was analyzed by dual staining technique with acridine orange/propidium iodide (AO/PI) stains. It was further confirmed with flow cytometry analysis with Annexin FITC and JC‐1 staining and the anti‐invasive property was assessed by Transwell assay. The molecular mechanism of dieckol anticancer activity was confirmed by estimating the levels of caspases and by estimating the signaling proteins of Pi3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway using the immunoblotting technique. Our data suggest that dieckol is potent anticancer agent, it effectively inhibits the invasive and migratory property A549 cells and it also induces apoptosis via inhibiting Pi3K/AKT/mTOR signaling, activating the tumor suppressor protein E‐cadherin signifying that dieckol is potent natural anticancer drug to treat NSCLC.
The modification effects of surface-active element Mg on the inclusions and macro/microstructure of as-cast M42 high-speed steel were investigated by microscopy analyses, thermodynamic calculations, ...and first-principles DFT calculations. The results indicated that Mg treatment changed the inclusion type from MgO·Al
2
O
3
and MnS to MgO and MgS. The contents of O and S as well as the average size and number density of inclusions gradually decreased with the increase of Mg addition amount due to the accelerated floating up of inclusions. Increasing Mg content reduced the secondary dendrite arm spacing and the average thickness of eutectic ledeburite. The refinement of as-cast microstructure by Mg treatment could be attributed to the combined effects of heterogeneous nucleation of primary austenite on MgS inclusions and the solute segregation effect of Mg. The enrichment of solute Mg in the interdendritic regions was identified by ToF-SIMS. Increasing Mg content significantly reduced the precipitation of eutectic carbides by decreasing Mo enrichment and C activity in the residual liquid. Moreover, increasing Mg content inhibited the formation of M
6
C eutectic carbides and promoted the precipitation of M
2
C eutectic carbides by increasing C segregation and decreasing Mo segregation, and thus, significantly improved the homogeneity of as-cast macrostructure.
Flexible and lightweight high-performance electromagnetic interference shielding materials with minimal thickness, excellent mechanical properties, and outstanding reliability are highly desired in ...the field of fifth-generation (5G) communication, yet remain extremely challenging to manufacture. Herein, we prepared an ultrathin densified carbon nanotube (CNT) film with superior mechanical properties and ultrahigh shielding effectiveness. Upon complete removal of impurities in pristine CNT film, charge separation in individual CNTs induced by polar molecules leads to strong CNT–CNT attraction and film densification, which significantly improve the electrical conductivity, shielding performance, and mechanical strength. The tensile strength is up to 822 ± 21 MPa, meanwhile the electrical conductivity is as high as 902,712 S/m, and the density is only 1.39 g cm–3. Notably, the shielding effectiveness is over 51 dB with a thickness of merely 1.85 μm in the broad frequency range of 4–18 GHz, and it reaches to ∼82 dB at 6.36 μm and ∼101 dB at 14.7 μm, respectively. Further, such CNT film exhibits excellent reliability after an extended period in strong acid/alkali, high temperature, and high humidity. It demonstrates the best overall performance among representative shielding materials by far, representing a critical breakthrough in the preparation of shielding film toward applications in wearable electronics and 5G communication.
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