Conformational and Compositional Tuning of Phenanthrocarbazole-Based Dopant-Free Hole-Transport Polymers Boosting the Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells.

Conjugated polymers are regarded as promising candidates for dopant-free hole-transport materials (HTMs) in efficient and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Thus far, the vast majority of polymeric HTMs feature structurally complicated benzo[1,2-:4,5-']dithiophene (BDT) analogs and electron-withdrawing heterocycles, forming a strong donor-acceptor (D-A) structure. Herein, a new class of phenanthrocarbazole ()-based polymeric HTMs (, , and ) has been synthesized by inserting a unit into a polymeric thiophene or selenophene chain with the aim of enhancing the π-π stacking of adjacent polymer chains and also to efficiently interact with the perovskite surface through the broad and planar conjugated backbone of the .

Insights into the Clinical Management of Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections: An Italian Retrospective Clinical Chart Review.

There is a lack of consensus regarding management of infections with carbapenem- resistant Gram-negative (CR-GN) pathogens. This study comprised a medical chart review to assess patient management in a high CR prevalence setting. Data was collated retrospectively from medical records of patients hospitalized between November 1, 2015 and October 31, 2016.

Chiral determination of nornicotine, anatabine and anabasine in tobacco by achiral gas chromatography with (1S)-(-)-camphanic chloride derivatization: Application to enantiomeric profiling of cultivars and curing processes.

The alkaloid enantiomers are well-known to have different physiological and pharmacological effects, and to play an important role in enantioselectivity metabolism with enzymes catalysis in tobacco plants. Here, we developed an improved method for simultaneous and high-precision determination of the individual enantiomers of nornicotine, anatabine and anabasine in four tobacco matrices, based on an achiral gas chromatography-nitrogen phosphorus detector (GCNPD) with commonly available Rtx-200 column using (1S)-(-)-camphanic chloride derivatization. The method development consists of the optimization of extraction and derivatization, screening of achiral column, analysis of the fragmentation mechanisms and evaluation of matrix effect (ME).

Taking Guatemala From Cobalt to IMRT: A Tale of US Agency Collaboration With Academic Institutions and Industry.

The not-for-profit organization La LIGA Nacional Contra el Cáncer, with its hospital Instituto de Cancerología (INCAN), is responsible for cancer treatment of much of the indigent population in Guatemala, a country with a population of 16 million. Annually, approximately 70% of patients at INCAN are seen in late stages of cancer, which places a great strain on the hospital's limited resources. Private clinics account for 75% of radiation therapy centers in Guatemala and have considerable resources.

Automated and robust beam data validation of a preconfigured ring gantry linear accelerator using a 1D tank with synchronized beam delivery and couch motions.

Purpose: To develop an efficient and automated methodology for beam data validation for a preconfigured ring gantry linear accelerator using scripting and a one-dimensional (1D) tank with automated couch motions.

Materials And Methods: Using an application programming interface, a program was developed to allow the user to choose a set of beam data to validate with measurement. Once selected the program generates a set of instructions for radiation delivery with synchronized couch motions for the linear accelerator in the form of an extensible markup language (XML) file to be delivered on the ring gantry linear accelerator.

[Spatial-temporal Variation and Source Change of Heavy Metals in the Cropland Soil in the Industrial City].

Environmental policy regulation affects the accumulation of heavy metals in soil. Two soil surveys were conducted in farmland in industrial cities. Classical statistical and geostatistical methods were applied to examine the content changes and spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn in soil.

Single-vesicle imaging quantifies calcium's regulation of nanoscale vesicle clustering mediated by α-synuclein.

Although numerous studies have shown that the protein α-synuclein (α-Syn) plays a central role in Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and other neurodegenerative diseases, the protein's physiological function remains poorly understood. Furthermore, despite recent reports suggesting that, under the influence of Ca, α-Syn can interact with synaptic vesicles, the mechanisms underlying that interaction are far from clear. Thus, we used single-vesicle imaging to quantify the extent to which Ca regulates nanoscale vesicle clustering mediated by α-Syn.

Intracranial Stereotactic Radiation Therapy With a Jawless Ring Gantry Linear Accelerator Equipped With New Dual Layer Multileaf Collimator.

Purpose: To test the feasibility of a simplified, robust, workflow for intracranial stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT) using a ring gantry linear accelerator (RGLA) equipped with a dual-layer stacked, staggered, and interdigitating multileaf collimator.

Materials And Methods: Twenty recent clinical SRT cases treated using a radiosurgery c-arm linear accelerator were anonymized. From these data sets, a new planning workflow was developed and used to replan these cases, which then were compared to their clinical counterparts.

The Burden of Bloodstream Infections due to in the United States: A Large, Retrospective Database Study.

Background: is an opportunistic pathogen observed in both nosocomial and community-onset infections. is intrinsically resistant to many currently available broad-spectrum antibiotics and is often not included in antimicrobial resistance surveillance studies or stewardship programs' guidelines.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients with bloodstream infection (BSI) in the United States was conducted using the 2010-2015 US Premier Healthcare Database.

Povidone-iodine chemical pleurodesis in treating spontaneous chylothorax in pediatric patients.

Background: Chylothorax is a rare disease with a high mortality rate in pediatric patients like newborns and infants. As one of the minimally invasive treatments, chemical pleural pleurodesis has been gradually used in treating pediatric chylothorax patients in recent years. This study explored the feasibility, safety and effect of povidone-iodine chemical pleurodesis (CP) for spontaneous chylothorax in young pediatric patients.

Incidence of venous thromboembolism among postmenopausal women prescribed ospemifene, selective estrogen receptor modulators for noncancer indications, or untreated vulvar and vaginal atrophy.

Objective: Ospemifene is a nonsteroidal selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) for the treatment of moderate symptomatic vulvar and vaginal atrophy (VVA) due to menopause. A postauthorization safety study is currently examining the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) among postmenopausal women receiving ospemifene or other SERM (raloxifene, bazedoxifene, or tamoxifen, for noncancer indications), or with untreated VVA.

Methods: This interim analysis used the US MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental claims database from 2013 to 2017 to identify incident VTE.

Yangjing Capsule Can Improve the Function of the Testicular Angiogenesis through Activating VEGFA/eNOS Signaling Pathway.

Background: The testicular microcirculation was an important aspect of testicular physiology and it offered a stable environment for the transport of nutrients and secretary products in the testis. Yangjing capsule (YC), a traditional Chinese compound herbal prescription, has been proved as an effective drug to ameliorate spermatogenesis, promote testosterone synthesis in vivo, and cure spermatogenesis in clinical practice.

Objective: This study was aimed at understanding the potential mechanisms of YC exerting angiogenic effects in the mouse spermatogenesis dysfunction model induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) and MLTC-1 cells.

Comprehensive validation of halcyon 2.0 plans and the implementation of patient specific QA with multiple detector platforms.

Purpose: To perform a comprehensive validation of plans generated on a preconfigured Halcyon 2.0 with preloaded beam model, including evaluations of new features and implementing the patient specific quality assurance (PSQA) process with multiple detectors.

Methods: A total of 56 plans were generated in Eclipse V15.

Down-regulation of B2R contributes to preeclampsia by inhibiting human trophoblast cell invasion and angiogenesis.

Objective: Bradykinin B2 receptor (B2R) was decreased in early chorionic villi of pregnancies who progressed to severe preeclampsia (PE), suggesting downregulation of B2R may be involved in the pathogenesis of PE. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible roles of B2R in the pathophysiology of PE and its function in trophoblastic cells.

Study Design: The expression of B2R in placentas from patients with early-onset severe PE (sPE) and LPS induced PE-like rats were detected.

Heparin conjugated PCL/Gel - PCL/Gel/n-HA bilayer fibrous membrane for potential regeneration of soft and hard tissues.

A novel bilayer fibrous membrane for guided tissue regeneration (GTR) was prepared two-step electrospinning process, subsequent crosslinking and surface conjugation with heparin. The bilayer membrane consists of upper layer polycaprolactone/gelatin (PCL/Gel) membrane for soft tissue regeneration and lower layer PCL/Gel/nano-hydroxyapatite (PCL/Gel/n-HA) membrane for hard tissue regeneration. The results indicated that the physicochemical and biological properties of the membrane were strongly influenced by the crosslinking time and by the heparin conjugation.

Quantitative assessments of static and dynamic balance performance in patients with chronic ankle instability.

Patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) have postural-control deficits during center-of-pressure excursions than do healthy individuals. While an external analysis of center-of-pressure excursions in CAI has been performed, a quantitative analysis of center-of-gravity movements, to detect the balance deficits associated with CAI, has yet to be performed. Therefore, the aim of the study is to quantify the balance deficits in patients with unilateral CAI.

Therapeutic effects of internal fixation with support plates and cannulated screws via the posterolateral approach on supination external rotation stage IV ankle fracture.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of internal fixation with support plates and cannulated screws via the posterolateral approach on supination external rotation stage IV ankle fracture.

Methods: Eighty-five patients with SER-IV° ankle fracture and large posterior malleolar fracture treated from June 2016 to June 2018 in our hospital, were randomly divided into a support plate group (n=47) and a cannulated screw group (n=38). The treatment outcomes were compared regarding surgical time, amount of bleeding, time of fracture healing, postoperative complications, as well as the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Score and excellent rate one year later.

MiR-34a may Function as Potential Biomarker for Remission after Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.

Background: Emerging evidence has manifested that many microRNAs (miRNAs) exert crucial roles in the responses and remission process of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). The present study aimed to investigate clinical significance of miR-34a concerning the assessment of neurological remission and prognosis after TSCI.

Methods: We examined the serum levels of miR-34a in patients with TSCI and healthy controls through real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay.

Etiology and Risk Factors for Extubation Failure in Low Birth Weight Infants Undergoing Congenital Heart Surgery.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to explore the etiology and risk factors of extubation failure (ExF) in low birth weight (LBW) infants undergoing congenital heart surgery.

Design: Retrospective, comparative study.

Setting: A Cantonese cardiac center in China.

Comparative Proteomic Analysis by iTRAQ Reveals that Plastid Pigment Metabolism Contributes to Leaf Color Changes in Tobacco () during Curing.

Tobacco (), is a world's major non-food agricultural crop widely cultivated for its economic value. Among several color change associated biological processes, plastid pigment metabolism is of trivial importance in postharvest plant organs during curing and storage. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in carotenoid and chlorophyll metabolism, as well as color change in tobacco leaves during curing, need further elaboration.

Association between Serum Lipid and Hematoma Expansion after Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Chinese Patients.

Objectives: Although several studies have shown that interventions to lower blood lipid concentration may reduce the risk of coronary arterial disease and ischemic stroke, the correlation between serum lipid levels and hemorrhagic stroke remains controversial. To clarify any possible association between serum lipid and hematoma expansion, we examined various serum lipid indices in patients with and without early hematoma expansion.

Methods: Data of 572 intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients from the cerebral small vessel disease cohort of Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.

[Roles of cyclins in the progression of spermatogenesis].

Spermatogenesis is a complex and precise process of differentiation of germ cells, which involves three stages: mitosis of spermatogonia, meiosis of spermatocytes and formation of spermatozoa. The process is controlled by many factors, including regulation of cyclins in spermatogenic cells, which plays a pivotal role. Cyclins form heterologous dimer compounds with protein kinase activity by binding to cyclin-dependent kinases, then phosphorylate multiple proteins and promote the orderly conduct of each phase of the cell cycle.

Different regions of synaptic vesicle membrane regulate VAMP2 conformation for the SNARE assembly.

Vesicle associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2/synaptobrevin2), a core SNARE protein residing on synaptic vesicles (SVs), forms helix bundles with syntaxin-1 and SNAP25 for the SNARE assembly. Prior to the SNARE assembly, the structure of VAMP2 is unclear. Here, by using in-cell NMR spectroscopy, we describe the dynamic membrane association of VAMP2 SNARE motif in mammalian cells, and the structural change of VAMP2 upon the change of intracellular lipid environment.

Changes in water loss and cell wall metabolism during postharvest withering of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaves using tandem mass tag-based quantitative proteomics approach.

Withering is an important biological process accompanied by dehydration and cell wall metabolism in postharvest plant organs during curing/processing and storage. However, dynamics involved in cell wall metabolism and resultant water loss during withering in postharvest tobacco leaves is not well-documented. Here, tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomic analysis in postharvest tobacco leaves (cultivar K326) under different withering conditions was performed.

Effect of fluorine substituents on benzothiadiazole-based D-π-A'-π-A photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Two D-π-A'-π-A organic dyes with triazatruxene (TAT) as the electron donor, thiophene as the π-spacer, benzoic acid as the anchor group, and benzothiadiazole (BT) or difluorobenzo[][1,2,5]thiadiazole (DFBT) as the additional acceptor, namely LS101 and LS102, respectively, were applied to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). As fluorine substituents are usually strong electron-withdrawing groups, introducing two fluorine atoms into BT was expected to strengthen the electron-withdrawing ability of the auxiliary acceptor, resulting in DSSCs with a broader light capture region and further improved power conversion efficiency (PCE). Fluorine is the smallest electron-withdrawing group with an induction effect, but can also act as an electron-donating group owing to its conjugation effect.