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.

Metabolic Traits and Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Japanese and European Populations: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

The role of metabolic traits in ischemic stroke (IS) has been explored through observational studies and a few Mendelian randomization (MR) studies employing limited methods in European populations. This study aimed to investigate the causal effects of metabolic traits on IS in both East Asian and European populations utilizing multiple MR methods based on genetic insights. Two-sample and multivariable MR were performed, and MR estimates were calculated as inverse-variance weighted (IVW), weighted median, and penalized weighted median.

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.

Externalizing traits: Shared causalities for COVID-19 and Alzheimer's dementia using Mendelian randomization analysis.

Externalizing traits have been related with the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Alzheimer's dementia (AD); however, whether these associations are causal remains unknown. We used the two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach with more than 200 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for externalizing traits to explore the causal associations of externalizing traits with the risk of COVID-19 (infected COVID-19, hospitalized COVID-19, and severe COVID-19) or AD based on the summary data. The inverse variance-weighted method (IVW) was used to estimate the main effect, followed by several sensitivity analyses.

Leveraging IgG N-glycosylation to infer the causality between T2D and hypertension.

Background: Observational studies demonstrated a bidirectional association between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and hypertension, whereas Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses supported the causality from T2D to hypertension but not causal from hypertension to T2D. We previously found that IgG N-glycosylation is associated with both T2D and hypertension, and thus IgG N-glycosylation might link the causality between them.

Methods: We carried out a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify IgG N-glycosylation-quantitative-trait loci (QTLs) integrating GWAS for T2D and hypertension and then performed bidirectional univariable and multivariable MR analyses to infer the causal association among them.

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)].

Network Pharmacology-Based Exploration of the Therapeutic Mechanisms of Cordyceps cicadae in Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion.

BACKGROUND Cordyceps cicadae is beneficial in treating renal diseases, especially in inhibiting renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). The aim of this study was to systematically analyze and predict the potential mechanism of Cordyceps cicadae in renal IRI therapy using network pharmacology. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cordycepin, adenosine, and cordycepic acid are the 3 major medicinal ingredients in Cordyceps cicadae.

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.

Characterization and determinant factors of critical illness and in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients: A retrospective cohort of 1,792 patients in Kenya.

Limited data is available on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), critical illness rate, and in-hospital mortality in the African setting. This study investigates determinants of critical illness and in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients in Kenya. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Kenya.

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.

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 Role of C-Reactive Protein and Fibrinogen in the Development of Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Mendelian Randomization Study in European Population.

The causal association of C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen on intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains uncertain. We investigated the causal associations of CRP and fibrinogen with ICH using two-sample Mendelian randomization. We used single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with CRP and fibrinogen as instrumental variables.

Association between telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes and risk of ischemic stroke in a Han Chinese population: a linear and non-linear Mendelian randomization analysis.

Background: Many contradictory conclusions pertaining to the telomere length in peripheral leukocyte chromosomes as a potential biomarker for ischemic stroke (IS) risk have been reported by the various observational studies in previous years. This study aims to investigate whether the leukocyte telomere length is associated with an increased IS risk or not, based on the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Methods: Based on the NHGRI-EBI GWAS Catalog database, the Chinese online genetic database as well as the previous published studies, twelve single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with minor allele frequency ≥ 0.

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.