Low-Threshold Amplified Spontaneous Emission from Quasi-2D Lead-Bromide Perovskites for Lasing Applications.

Quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) lead halide perovskite materials have shown great potential as gain media for amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and lasing. Due to the complexity of the mixed-dimensional perovskite materials, factors influencing their ASE thresholds remain unclear, limiting the pace of development in this emerging area of research. Here, we report exceptionally low ASE thresholds of ∼2.

Surface-Sensitive Waveguide Imaging for In Situ Analysis of Membrane Protein Binding Kinetics.

Ligand binding to membrane proteins initiates numerous therapeutic processes. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR), a popular method for analyzing molecular interactions, has emerged as a promising tool for in situ determination of membrane protein binding kinetics owing to its label-free detection, high surface sensitivity, and resistance to intracellular interference. However, the excitation of SPR relies on noble metal films, typically gold, which are biologically incompatible and can cause fluorescence quenching.

Indicator-based tuberculosis infection control assessments with knowledge, attitudes, and practices evaluations among health facilities in China, 2017 to 2019.

Background: Tuberculosis Building and Strengthening Infection Control Strategies (TB BASICS) aimed to achieve improvements in TB infection prevention and control (IPC) through structured training and mentorship.

Methods: TB BASICS was implemented in 6 Chinese provinces from 2017 to 2019. Standardized, facility-based risk assessments tailored to inpatient, laboratory, and outpatient departments were conducted quarterly for 18months.

In Situ and Label-Free Quantification of Membrane Protein-Ligand Interactions Using Optical Imaging Techniques: A Review.

Membrane proteins are crucial for various cellular processes and are key targets in pharmacological research. Their interactions with ligands are essential for elucidating cellular mechanisms and advancing drug development. To study these interactions without altering their functional properties in native environments, several advanced optical imaging methods have been developed for in situ and label-free quantification.

Dielectric Surface-Based Biosensors for Enhanced Detection of Biomolecular Interactions: Advances and Applications.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors are extensively utilized for analyzing molecular interactions due to their high sensitivity and label-free detection capabilities. Recent innovations in surface-sensitive biosensors with dielectric surfaces address the inherent limitations associated with traditional gold surfaces, such as thermal effects and biocompatibility issues, which can impede broader applications. This review examines state-of-the-art biosensor configurations, including total internal reflection, optical waveguide, photonic crystal resonators, Bloch surface wave biosensors, and surface electrochemical biosensors, which can enhance analyte signals and augment the molecular detection efficiency at the sensor interface.

Transmission of tuberculosis in rural Henan, China: a prospective population-based genomic spatial epidemiological study.

The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) has declined more slowly in rural than urban areas in China, and data on the patterns of transmission and the high-risk populations in rural areas remains scarce. We conducted a population-based study of culture-positive pulmonary TB patients diagnosed in rural Linzhou City, Henan Province from July 2018 to February 2023. Genomic clusters were defined based on whole-genome sequencing and risk factors for clustering were identified by logistic regression.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals writers of RNA modification-mediated immune microenvironment and cardiac resident Macro-MYL2 macrophages in heart failure.

Background: Heart failure (HF), which is caused by cardiac overload and injury, is linked to significant mortality. Writers of RNA modification (WRMs) play a crucial role in the regulation of epigenetic processes involved in immune response and cardiovascular disease. However, the potential roles of these writers in the immunological milieu of HF remain unknown.

Association between Vitamin D Deficiency and Prediabetes Phenotypes: A Population-Based Study in Henan, China.

The evidence remains inconsistent regarding whether vitamin D deficiency (VDD) increases the risk of prediabetes. This study aimed to examine whether there is sex-specific association between VDD and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in Henan. The data were sourced from the survey of chronic diseases and nutrition in Henan.

Improved Molecular Packing of Self-Assembled Monolayer Charge Injectors for Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes.

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have shown great potential as hole injection materials for perovskite light-emitting diodes due to their low parasitic absorption and ability to adjust energy level alignment. However, the head and anchoring groups on SAM molecules with significant differences in polarity can lead to the formation of micelles in the commonly used alcoholic processing solvent, inhibiting the formation of an intact SAM. In this work, the introduction of methyl groups on carbazole in the phosphonic-acid-based SAM materials is found to facilitate energy level alignment and promote the formation of compact SAMs.

Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensors: A Review of Molecular Imaging with High Spatial Resolution.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a powerful tool for determining molecular interactions quantitatively. SPR imaging (SPRi) further improves the throughput of SPR technology and provides the spatially resolved capability for observing the molecular interaction dynamics in detail. SPRi is becoming more and more popular in biological and chemical sensing and imaging.

Implementing a continuous quality-improvement framework for tuberculosis infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities in China, 2017-2019.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) infection prevention and control (IPC) in healthcare facilities is key to reducing transmission risk. A framework for systematically improving TB IPC through training and mentorship was implemented in 9 healthcare facilities in China from 2017 to 2019.

Methods: Facilities conducted standardized TB IPC assessments at baseline and quarterly thereafter for 18 months.

Label-free analysis of membrane protein binding kinetics and cell adhesions using evanescent scattering microscopy.

Measuring ligand interactions with membrane proteins in single live cells is critical for understanding many cellular processes and screening drugs. However, developing such a capability has been a difficult challenge. Here, we employ evanescent scattering microscopy (ESM) to show that ligand binding to membrane proteins can change the cell adhesion properties, which are intrinsic cell properties and independent of random cell micromotions and ligand mass, thus allowing the kinetics analyses of both proteins and small molecules binding to membrane proteins in both single fixed and live cells.

Study on the Influence of Mining Activities on the Quality of Deep Karst Groundwater Based on Multivariate Statistical Analysis and Hydrochemical Analysis.

Long-term mining activities have changed the hydrogeochemical evolution process of groundwater and threatened the safe use of groundwater. By using the methods of hydrochemistry and multivariate statistical analysis, this study determined the hydrogeochemical evolution mechanism affecting the quality of karst groundwater by analyzing the conventional hydrochemistry data of the karst groundwater of the Carboniferous Taiyuan Formation in Hengyuan Coal Mine in the recent 12 years. The results show that, under the disturbance of mining, the quality of karst groundwater in Taiyuan Formation is poor, mainly because the contents of Na+K and SO are too high to allow usage as drinking water.

Epidemiology of recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis by bacteriological features of 100 million residents in China.

Background: Recurrence continues to place significant burden on patients and tuberculosis programmes worldwide, and previous studies have rarely provided analysis in negative recurrence cases. We characterized the epidemiological features of recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients, estimated its probability associated with different bacteriology results and risk factors.

Methods: Using 2005-2018 provincial surveillance data from Henan, China, where the permanent population approximately were 100 million, we described the epidemiological and bacteriological features of recurrent PTB.

Chemical-Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging of Fingerprints.

Fingerprints are extremely useful in personal identification; however, they are usually based on physical rather than chemical images because it remains a challenge to reveal a clear chemical fingerprint easily and sensitively. Herein, a surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) method, combined with a chemically selective stepwise signal amplification (CSA) strategy, is proposed to chemically image fingerprints with adjustable sensitivity and clarity. High-fidelity glucose-associated fingerprint images were obtained at five to seven cycles of CSA based on the recognition reaction of concanavalin A (ConA) with dextran.

Assessment of Strategies and Epidemiological Characteristics of Tuberculosis in Henan Province, China: Observational Study.

Background: In 2005, China established an internet-based Tuberculosis Information Management System (TBIMS) to monitor changes in tuberculosis (TB). Many scholars have conducted epidemiological research using TBIMS; however, few studies assessing control strategies have been performed based on this platform data. Henan province is a high TB incidence area in China where, in addition to following the nationwide TB strategies, a series of local intervention combinations have been implemented.

Analysis and predication of tuberculosis registration rates in Henan Province, China: an exponential smoothing model study.

Background: The World Health Organization End TB Strategy meant that compared with 2015 baseline, the reduction in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) incidence should be 20 and 50% in 2020 and 2025, respectively. The case number of PTB in China accounted for 9% of the global total in 2018, which ranked the second high in the world. From 2007 to 2019, 854 672 active PTB cases were registered and treated in Henan Province, China.

Epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis among health-care workers in Henan, China from 2010 to 2017.

Background: Health-care workers (HCWs) are an epidemiological group with increased exposure to tuberculosis (TB), especially at health-care facilities (HCFs) with poor TB infection control in high-TB-burden settings. China is a high-TB-burden country, and the comprehensive measures for stopping TB transmission at some HCFs were not implemented well owing to limited resources and other factors. The purpose of this study was to review risk of occupational exposure to TB among HCWs and its change trend, and identify epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among HCWs in Henan, central part of China.

Preparation of Monolayer Photonic Crystals from Ag Nanobulge-Deposited SiO Particles as Substrates for Reproducible SERS Assay of Trace Thiol Pesticide.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) greatly increases the detection sensitivity of Raman scattering. However, its real applications are often degraded due to the unrepeatable preparation of SERS substrates. Herein presented is a very facile and cost-effective method to reproducibly produce a novel type of SERS substrate, a monolayer photonic crystal (PC).

Impact of a group-based intervention program on physical activity and health-related outcomes in worksite settings.

Background: The benefits of physical activity (PA) have been well documented, and the worksite is a promising setting for PA promotion. The aims of this study were as follows: 1. To evaluate the effect of a group-based worksite intervention on PA and health-related outcomes by using pedometers.

Texture analysis of early cerebral tissue damage in magnetic resonance imaging of patients with lung cancer.

Primary tumors can secrete many cytokines, inducing tissue damage or microstructural changes in distant organs. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in texture features in the cerebral tissue of patients with lung cancer without brain metastasis. In this study, 50 patients with lung cancers underwent 3.

Distribution Of Brain Metastasis From Lung Cancer.

Purpose: The prognosis of lung cancer with brain metastasis is poor. The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of brain metastasis and explore its relationship with pathology and genetic mutations.

Patients And Methods: Between June 2015 and July 2018, 335 patients from Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong University who had been firstly diagnosed with brain metastasis from lung cancer were retrospectively reviewed.

An outbreak of tuberculosis in a middle school in Henan, China: Epidemiology and risk factors.

Background: In 2013, a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak occurred in a middle school in Henan province of China. An outbreak survey was carried out in the school.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to investigate the detection rate of TB cases and those with strong Mantoux positive (SMP), defined as tuberculin skin test (TST) indurations of 15mm or larger and/or blisters, necrosis or lymphangitis, and to identify their risk factors.

Sensing ultra-trace dopamine by restoration of fluorescence on locally acidified gold nanoparticles.

An ultra-sensitive sensor was fabricated to measure dopamine through quenching and restoring FITC fluorescence by the competitive binding of dopamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid with mercaptophenylboronic acid anchored on the gold nanoparticles. Assessed by quantifying dopamine in human urine samples, it reached a limit of detection of as low as 50 pM dopamine over a linear range from 10 M to 10 M. It also features low technical barriers and operation cost, and the strategy proposed could be extendable to other analytes and not restricted to the gold nanoparticles.