BaPb(CO)F: Enhancing Birefringence by a Multiunit Synergy Effect.

Carbonates are ideal birefringent materials because their π-conjugated [CO] groups are beneficial for large anisotropy. How to maximize the birefringence and maintain a wide transmittance simultaneously in carbonates is a great challenge. Adopting a multiple-functional group synergy strategy by combining alkaline-earth metal Ba with large ion radius, PbOF distorted hexagonal pyramid, and paralleled π-conjugated CO triangles together, we synthesized a new metal carbonate crystal, BaPb(CO)F.

Novel potential urinary biomarkers for effective diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of high-grade bladder cancer.

Background: High-grade bladder cancer (HGBC) has a higher malignant potential, recurrence and progression rate compared to low-grade phenotype. Its early symptoms are often vague, making non-invasive diagnosis using urinary biomarkers a promising approach.

Methods: The gene expression data from urine samples of patients with HGBC was extracted from the GSE68020 dataset.

AKTeO(CO) (A = Li, Na): The First Carbonatotellurites Featuring a Zero-Dimensional [TeCO] Cluster and a Wide Band Gap.

The first carbonatotellurites, AKTeO(CO) (A = Li, Na), have been successfully synthesized by using boric acid as the mineralizer. AKTeO(CO) (A = Li, Na) crystallize in the monoclinic space group 2/ (no. 14), and their structures exhibit the novel zero-dimensional (0D) [TeCO] clusters, in which two [TeO] groups form a [TeO] dimer via edge-sharing, with each side of the dimer attached by a [CO] group via a Te-O-C bridge.

Research progress of therapeutic effects and drug resistance of immunotherapy based on PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.

The binding of programmed death-1 (PD-1) on the surface of T cells and PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells can prevent the immune-killing effect of T cells on tumor cells and promote the immune escape of tumor cells. Therefore, immune checkpoint blockade targeting PD-1/PD-L1 is a reliable tumor therapy with remarkable efficacy. However, the main challenges of this therapy are low response rate and acquired resistance, so that the outcomes of this therapy are usually unsatisfactory.

Nitrate Quantification in Fresh Vegetables in Shanghai: Its Dietary Risks and Preventive Measures.

To investigate nitrate and nitrite content in fresh vegetables, 264 samples were randomly collected in the farmers' markets in Shanghai, Southeast China. The results indicate that 25.0% of the fresh vegetables were critically or more contaminated by nitrate [>1440 mg/kg FW (Fresh weight)].

NaBa[MBO(OH)]F (M = Ge, Si): Two Synthetic F Analogues of Garrelsite with [BO(OH)] Polyanions and Deep-Ultraviolet Cutoff Edges.

Two new borogermanate/borosilicate fluorides, namely, NaBa[MBO(OH)]F (M = Ge, Si), have been successfully synthesized through a conventional mild hydrothermal method. They represent the first examples of mixed alkali and alkaline-earth borogermanate/borosilicate fluorides. NaBa[MBO(OH)]F (M = Ge, Si) crystallize in the space group of 2/, and their structures feature a unique 3D anionic framework composed of [BO(OH)] polyanions corner-sharing with SiO or GeO tetrahedra, forming 1D 10-membered-ring tunnels along the axis, which are filled by Na, Ba, and F ions.

Cd(IO)(PO) and CdMg(IO)(PO): metal iodate-phosphates with large SHG responses and wide band gaps.

The first NLO-active metal iodate-phosphates, namely, Cd(IO)(PO) and CdMg(IO)(PO) (1 and 2), with three types of NLO groups, have been reported. 1 and 2 are isostructural and the structure of 1 features a 3D network formed by the Cd(IO)(PO) groups. 1 and 2 with strong SHG signals of 4 × and 3.

Association of C-reactive Protein with Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Mendelian Randomization Study in the Japanese Population.

Objective: Traditional epidemiological studies have shown that C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, whether this association is causal remains unclear. Therefore, Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to explore the causal relationship of CRP with cardiovascular outcomes including ischemic stroke, atrial fibrillation, arrhythmia and congestive heart failure.

M(B(SeO))HO (M = Al, Ga): the first boroselenites with a unique sandwich like double-layer structure.

Exploration of new types of borates is important because of their promising applications in diverse fields. Two new boroselenites, namely, M(B(SeO))HO (M = Al, Ga), which represent the first IIIA metal boroselenite, were synthesized by hydrothermal reactions. M(B(SeO))HO (M = Al, Ga) possesses a unique sandwich like double-layer structure formed by two 2D [MSeO] layers interconnected by 1D [BSeO] chains.

The characteristics and mixing states of PM during a winter dust storm in Ningbo of the Yangtze River Delta, China.

Dust particulates play an essential role for the nucleation, hygroscopicity and also contribute to aerosol mass. We investigated the chemical composition, size distribution and mixing states of PM using a single-particle aerosol mass spectrometer (SPAMS), Monitor for AeRosols and Gases (MARGA), and off-line membrane sampling from 2018.1.

Tensor Approach to DOA Estimation of Coherent Signals with Electromagnetic Vector-Sensor Array.

This paper addresses the direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation problem using a uniform rectangular array with electromagnetic vector-sensors in correlated/coherent signal environments. The polarization information is separated from the steering matrix to decorrelate the signals. By developing a tensorial structured received measurements of the array, we propose a tensor-based eigenvector DOA estimation method.