Self-assembled molecular network with waterwheel-like architecture: experimental and theoretical evaluation toward electron transport capabilities for optoelectronic devices.

In recent times, self-assembled electron transport materials for optoelectronic devices, both solar cells and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), have been gaining much interest as they help in fabricating high-efficiency devices. However, designing organic small molecular materials with star-shaped self-assembled networks is a challenge. To achieve this sort of target, we chose triazine and benzene-1,3,5-tricarbonyl cores for developing such architecture, and we developed four molecular systems, TCpCN, TCmCN, TmCN, and TpCN.

Tuning the Liquid Crystallinity and Electroluminescence via Sulfonation of S-Annulated Perylene Tetraester.

This study presents a comparative analysis of S-annulated perylene tetraester (PTE-S) and its sulfone (PTE-SO) analogue. This sulfone modification reduced melting point and stabilized a room temperature columnar rectangular (Col) phase in contrast to its parent PTE-S which showed a crystalline behaviour at room temperature. This molecular design also leads to red-shifted absorbance and emission in comparison to PTE-S, along with a tuning of photoluminescence from sky blue to green, achieving an impressive quantum yield of 85 %.

Rationally heteroarylated pyridines as hole transport materials for OLEDs.

The advancement in developing highly efficient hole transport materials for OLED devices has been a challenge over the past several years. For an efficient OLED device, there should be an efficient promotion of charge carriers from each electrode and effective confinement of triplet excitons in the emissive layer of the phosphorescent OLED (PhOLED). Thus, the development of stable and high triplet energy hole transport materials is in urgent demand for high-performing PhOLED devices.

Draft genome sequence analysis of a high carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. quasipneumoniae strain isolated from an HIV-positive patient with pneumonia.

Objectives: The rapid spread of Klebsiella spp. is recognised as a major threat to public health owing to a rise in the number both of healthcare- and community-acquired infections. Here we report the draft genome sequence of a high carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp.

Influence of Ceramic Debris on Osteoblast Behaviors: An In Vivo Study.

Objective: Wear-induced aseptic loosening has been accepted as one of the main reasons for failure of total hip arthroplasty. Ceramic wear debris is generated following prosthesis implantation and plays an important part in the upregulation of inflammatory factors in total hip arthroplasty. The present study investigates the influence of ceramic debris on osteoblasts and inflammatory factors.

Long noncoding RNA XIST regulates the EGF receptor to promote TGF-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pancreatic cancer.

Background: This study focuses on the lncRNA XIST (X inactive-specific transcript), an lncRNA involved in multiple human cancers, and investigates the functional significance of XIST and the molecular mechanisms underlying the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in pancreatic cancer (PC).

Methods: Clinical specimens from 25 patients as well as 5 human PC cell lines were analyzed for XIST, YAP, and microRNA(miR)-34a by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. To investigate how XIST influences cell proliferation, invasiveness, and apoptosis in PC, we performed the CCK-8 assays, Transwell assays, and flow cytometry.

One-stage posterior approach for treating multilevel noncontiguous thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis.

Objectives: Multilevel noncontiguous thoracic and lumbar spinal tuberculosis (MNST) is a relatively rare entity. The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate whether a technique involving a one-stage posterior debridement and decompression, combined with an intervertebral fusion and posterior instrumentation, is effective for treating MNST.

Methods: Thirteen patients, with an average age of 40.

[The impact of serum total bilirubin level on long-term prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure].

Objective: To analyze the relationship between serum total bilirubin coincident with congestive heart failure (CHF) exacerbation and subsequent long-term mortality in patients with CHF.

Methods: The study population consisted of 140 consecutive patients admitted for CHF exacerbation with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 45%. They were divided into 2 groups according to whether death attacked or not in the following 28.

Characteristics of bone tunnel changes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System artificial ligament.

Background: There are different materials used for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. It has been reported that both autologous grafts and allografts used in ACL reconstruction can cause bone tunnel enlargement. This study aimed to observe the characteristics of bone tunnel changes and possible causative factors following ACL reconstruction using Ligament Advanced Reinforcement System (LARS) artificial ligament.

Inhibition of the cystathionine-gamma-lyase/hydrogen sulfide pathway in rat vascular smooth muscle cells by cobalt-60 gamma radiation.

Background: Radiation is a promising treatment for in stent restenosis and restenosis following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, which has troubled interventional cardiologists for a long time. It inhibits neointima hyperplasia, vascular remodeling, and increases the mean luminal diameter. The mechanism of intracoronary brachytherapy for restenosis is not well understood.

Yeast two-hybrid screening for proteins that interact with alpha1-adrenergic receptors.

Aim: To find novel proteins that may bind to alpha1A-adrenergic receptor (alpha1A-AR) and investigate their interactions with the other two alpha1-AR subtypes (alpha1B-AR and alpha1D-AR) with an expectation to provide new leads for the function study of the receptors.

Methods: Yeast two-hybrid assay was performed to screen a human brain cDNA library using the C terminus of alpha1A-AR (alpha1A-AR-CT) as bait. X-Gal assay and o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG) assay were subsequently conducted to further qualitatively or quantitatively confirm the interactions between receptors and the three identified proteins.

Cobalt-60 gamma radiation increased the nitric oxide generation in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

Radiation is a promising and new treatment for restenosis following angioplasty. Nitric oxide has been proposed as a potential "anti-restenotic" molecule. We radiated the cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells with Cobalt-60 gamma radiation at doses of 14 and 25Gy and observed nitrite production, cGMP content, L-arginine uptake, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity, and the gene expression of iNOS.

The role of hydrogen sulfide generation in the pathogenesis of hypertension in rats induced by inhibition of nitric oxide synthase.

Objective: The present study intended to investigate whether the impaired H2S synthase/H2S pathway is associated with hypertension.

Methods: Hypertension in Wistar rats was induced by the oral administration of the l-arginine analog, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) in their drinking water for a period of 6 weeks. The control rats were given plain tap water only.