Nanoscale Ferroelectric Programming of van der Waals Heterostructures.

We demonstrate an approach to creating nanoscale potentials in van der Waals layers integrated with a buried programmable ferroelectric layer. Using ultra-low-voltage electron beam lithography (ULV-EBL), we can program the ferroelectric polarization in AlBN (AlBN) thin films, generating structures with sizes as small as 35 nm. We demonstrate the ferroelectric field effect with a graphene/vdW stack on AlBN by creating a p-n junction.

Electronic-grade epitaxial (111) KTaO heterostructures.

KTaO heterostructures have recently attracted attention as model systems to study the interplay of quantum paraelectricity, spin-orbit coupling, and superconductivity. However, the high and low vapor pressures of potassium and tantalum present processing challenges to creating heterostructure interfaces clean enough to reveal the intrinsic quantum properties. Here, we report superconducting heterostructures based on high-quality epitaxial (111) KTaO thin films using an adsorption-controlled hybrid PLD to overcome the vapor pressure mismatch.

Tuberculosis combined with Burkitt lymphoma in a kidney transplant recipient: A case report and literature review.

Rationale: Tuberculosis (TB) and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder are serious complications affecting the long-term survival of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Both of complications have overlapping clinical symptoms, signs, and high similar imaging presentation, which make early clinical diagnosis challenging. In this paper, we reported a rare case of post-transplant pulmonary TB combined with Burkitt lymphoma (BL) in KTR.

Nanoscale Control of the Metal-Insulator Transition at LaAlO/KTaO Interfaces.

Recent reports of superconductivity at KTaO (KTO) (110) and (111) interfaces have sparked intense interest due to the relatively high critical temperature as well as other properties that distinguish this system from the more extensively studied SrTiO (STO)-based heterostructures. Here, we report the reconfigurable creation of conducting structures at intrinsically insulating LaAlO/KTO(110) and (111) interfaces. Devices are created using two distinct methods previously developed for STO-based heterostructures: (1) conductive atomic-force microscopy lithography and (2) ultralow-voltage electron-beam lithography.

Activation and Functional Alteration of Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells in Adult Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains the significant infectious cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT) play roles in the pathogenesis of children CAP and ICU-associated pneumonia, their roles in adult CAP are largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the frequency, phenotype, and function of MAIT cells in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of adult CAP patients.

Pre-existing interstitial lung disease in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: A meta-analysis.

Background: The impact of pre-existing interstitial lung disease (ILD) on the severity and mortality of COVID-19 remains largely unknown. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the prevalence of ILD among patients with COVID-19 and figure out the relationship between ILD and the poor clinical outcomes of COVID-19.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and MedRxiv Database from 1 January 2020 to 26 May 2021.

Electronically reconfigurable complex oxide heterostructure freestanding membranes.

In recent years, lanthanum aluminate/strontium titanate (LAO/STO) heterointerfaces have been used to create a growing family of nanoelectronic devices based on nanoscale control of LAO/STO metal-to-insulator transition. The properties of these devices are wide-ranging, but they are restricted by nature of the underlying thick STO substrate. Here, single-crystal freestanding membranes based on LAO/STO heterostructures were fabricated, which can be directly integrated with other materials via van der Waals stacking.

Respiratory supports of COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit: A systematic review.

Introduction: We aimed to describe the respiratory supports and determine their association with clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: A systemic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, MedRxiv and BioRxiv database from December 2019 to 2 July 2020. Studies reporting the application of respiratory supports in COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU were included.

High levels of soluble CD25 in COVID-19 severity suggest a divergence between anti-viral and pro-inflammatory T-cell responses.

Objectives: We aimed to gain an understanding of the paradox of the immunity in COVID-19 patients with T cells showing both functional defects and hyperactivation and enhanced proliferation.

Methods: A total of 280 hospitalised patients with COVID-19 were evaluated for cytokine profiles and clinical features including viral shedding. A mouse model of acute infection by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) was applied to dissect the relationship between immunological, virological and pathological features.

Risk Factors for Poor Outcomes of Diabetes Patients With COVID-19: A Single-Center, Retrospective Study in Early Outbreak in China.

Diabetes has been found to increase severity and mortality under the current pandemic of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). Up to date, the clinical characteristics of diabetes patients with COVID-19 and the risk factors for poor clinical outcomes are not clearly understood. The study was retrospectively carried out on enrolled diabetes patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection from a designated medical center for COVID-19 from January 25th, 2020 to February 14th, 2020 in Wuhan, China.

Gate-Tunable Optical Nonlinearities and Extinction in Graphene/LaAlO/SrTiO Nanostructures.

We explore the ultrafast optical response of graphene subjected to intense (∼10 V/cm) local (∼10 nm) electric fields. Nanoscale gating of graphene is achieved using a voltage-biased, SrTiO-based conductive nanowire junction "written" directly under the graphene and isolated from it by an insulating ultrathin (<2 nm) LaAlO barrier. Upon illumination with ultrafast visible-to-near-infrared (VIS-NIR) light pulses, the local field from the nanojunction creates a strong gate-tunable second-order nonlinearity in the graphene and produces a substantial difference-frequency (DFG) and sum-frequency generation (SFG) response detected by the nanojunction.

Analysis of inflammatory parameters and disease severity for 88 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, China.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is quickly turning into a pandemic. We aimed to further clarify the clinical characteristics and the relationship between these features and disease severity. In this retrospective single-center study, demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected and analyzed among moderate, severe and critically ill group patients.

Nasopharyngeal Swabs Are More Sensitive Than Oropharyngeal Swabs for COVID-19 Diagnosis and Monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 Load.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 by oropharyngeal swabs (OPS) and nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) is an essential method for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) management. It is not clear how detection rate, sensitivity, and the risk of exposure for medical providers differ in two sampling methods. In this prospective study, 120 paired NPS and OPS specimens were collected from 120 inpatients with confirmed COVID-19.

Gendered effects on inflammation reaction and outcome of COVID-19 patients in Wuhan.

Background: The rapid outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has turned into a public health emergency of international concern. Epidemiological research has shown that sex is associated with the severity of COVID-19, but the underlying mechanism of sex predisposition remains poorly understood. We aim to study the gendered differences in inflammation reaction, and the association with severity and mortality of COVID-19.

Risk factors for severity and mortality in adult COVID-19 inpatients in Wuhan.

Background: In December 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak occurred in Wuhan. Data on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with severe COVID-19 are limited.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the severity on admission, complications, treatment, and outcomes of patients with COVID-19.

Small interfering RNA against ERK1/2 attenuates cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling.

Cigarette smoke may contribute to pulmonary vascular remodeling (PVR), a result of the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), before pulmonary hypertension in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) are considered to be involved the process of PVR. This study investigated the potential role of ERK1/2 in the proliferation of rat PASMCs (rPASMCs) and cigarette smoke-induced PVR in rats.

CD8(+) Tc-lymphocytes immunodeviation in peripheral blood and airway from patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and changes after short-term smoking cessation.

Background: Cigarette smoke induces an acute but persisting inflammation in peripheral blood and airway in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and CD8(+) Tc-lymphocytes are considered as a key role in this process. We aimed to investigate the Tc-lymphocytes immunodeviation in system and local airway of COPD patients and changes of the immunodeviation after short-term smoking cessation.

Methods: Peripheral blood (PB) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected from 42 patients (14 COPD patients, 16 smokers with normal lung function and 12 nonsmokers), while PB and induced sputum (IS) were obtained from other 19 patients (10 quitting smokers and 9 continuing smokers) at baseline and follow-up respectively of 4-week smoking cessation.

ERK1/2 promotes cigarette smoke-induced rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells proliferation and pulmonary vascular remodeling via up-regulating cycline1 expression.

This study investigated the potential role of ERK1/2-cyclinE1 signaling pathway in rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (rPASMCs) proliferation and pulmonary vascular remodeling induced by cigarette smoke exposure. A total of 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (C group), S-1M, S-3M and S-6M groups (animals in the groups were exposed to smoke for 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively). HE staining and anti-α-smooth muscle actin antibody staining were performed to observe the degree of pulmonary vascular remodeling.

Change of extracellular signal-regulated kinase expression in pulmonary arteries from smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Cigarette smoking may contribute to pulmonary hypertension in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by resulting in pulmonary vascular remodeling that involves pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this process remains poorly understood.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in pulmonary arteries from smokers with normal lung function and smokers with mild to moderate COPD.