Giant Birefringence Induced by Intermolecular Aromatic Interactions in Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks.

Birefringent crystals are crucial optical materials that play a pivotal role in modulating and detecting the polarization state of light. However, there is still a significant challenge in regulating the assembly of π-conjugated active units to construct optical crystals with giant birefringence. In this study, a hydrogen-bonding self-assembly strategy is proposed to construct an aromatic π-conjugated hydrogen-bonded organic framework birefringent crystal (HOFBC) which exhibits a remarkable birefringence value of 0.

Immune imbalance underlying depressive symptoms in COPD patients: a study based on BDNF, PD-1, MMP-9, and inflammatory cytokines.

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is frequently accompanied by a high prevalence of depressive symptoms, particularly during acute exacerbations (AECOPD). However, the immunoinflammatory mechanisms underlying AECOPD-associated depression remain poorly elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the potential roles of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and key inflammatory cytokines-interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-α)-in mediating depressive symptoms among hospitalized AECOPD patients.

The ubiquitin ligase Triad1 influences myeloid leukemogenesis by regulating the integrated stress response.

Increased expression of a set of homeodomain transcription factors, including HoxA10, characterizes an adverse prognosis subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Examples of this subtype include AML with KMT2A or MYST3/CREBBP gene rearrangements, and an AML subset with normal cytogenetics. Previously, we identified ARIH2, the gene encoding Triad1, as a HoxA10 target gene.

Distribution, Diversity, and Ecological Risks of Microplastics in Mangrove Ecosystems of a Southeastern Chinese Estuary.

Mangrove ecosystems, serving as critical barriers at land-sea interfaces, face increasing threats from microplastic pollution. This study investigates the spatial distribution, diversity, and ecological risks of microplastics in sediments from the Zhangjiang Estuary mangroves, in southeastern China. Sampling was conducted along two gradients: upstream-downstream and interior-edge habitats.

Polar Lithium l-Aspartate Monohydrate: A Semiorganic Ultraviolet Transparent Nonlinear Optical Crystal.

Ultraviolet (UV) nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals capable of expanding common laser sources to the UV regime are core components of solid-state lasers. Currently, exploring UV NLO crystals in hybrid organic-inorganic systems is receiving increasing attention. Herein, we report the synthesis, characterization, and linear and NLO properties of a semiorganic UV NLO crystal, namely, lithium l-aspartate monohydrate, Li(L-OOCNHCHCHCOO)·HO ().

[TeSeS]: The First Heterotriple-Chalcogenide Motifs Decode Giant Mid-Far Infrared Birefringence.

Optical anisotropy, a cornerstone of polarization control, presents fundamental challenge in functional optical material design due to the intricate interplay between its regulation mechanisms and performance optimization. The development of mid-far infrared (MFIR) birefringent crystals has long been shackled by the incompatibility between giant optical anisotropy and ultrabroad transparency in conventional chalcogenides. Here, we break this shackle via heterotriple-chalcogenide engineering in the first thiotellurite birefringent family, BaTeQ (Q = S, Se), featuring isolated [TeQ]⁻ motifs.

Impact of temperature variations on burden of lower respiratory infections under climate change (1990-2021).

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the global burden and trends of lower respiratory infections (LRIs) attributable to non-optimal temperatures between 1990 and 2021, focusing on age, period, and cohort effects as well as health inequalities to inform targeted public health policies.

Methods: Using the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database, we obtained the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and disability-adjusted life-years rate (ASDR) for LRIs related to non-optimal temperatures. We calculated estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC) to assess LRIs burden trends and applied age-period-cohort modeling to quantify age, period, and cohort effects.

An adhesive, antibacterial, conductive zwitterionic cellulose nanofibers-containing hydrogel for flexible strain sensors and super-capacitors.

Cellulose-based hydrogels are promising materials for constructing flexible supercapacitors and energy storage devices due to their environmental sustainability and resource renewability. However, preparing cellulose-based hydrogel electrolytes with super flexibility, high conductivity, and high specific capacitance for practical applications is still challenging. Herein, an adhesive, antibacterial, conductive zwitterionic cellulose nanofibers-reinforced poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate-acrylic acid-acrylamide (ZCNF/PSAA) composite hydrogel was fabricated by a blue light-triggered free radical polymerization of 2-methacryloyloxy ethyl dimethyl-3-sulfopropyl ammonium hydroxide (SBMA), acrylic acid (AA), acryl amide (AM), dopamine methacrylamide (DMA) and zwitterionic cellulose nanofibers (ZCNF).

Designing a 3-Hydroxypropane-1-Sulfonate Deep-Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Crystal.

Although 3-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonates are discovered several decades ago, their nonlinear optical (NLO) properties have remained unexplored, mainly because most of them crystallize in centrosymmetric space groups. Herein, by incorporating polarizable rare-earth metal La cations, a novel non-centrosymmetric 3-hydroxypropane-1-sulfonate, namely La[SO(CH)OH] is designed and synthesized, whose crystal structure features 3D framework constructed by highly distorted [LaO] polyhedra and [SO(CH)OH] anions. Experimental results reveal that La[SO(CH)OH] is NLO-active with a moderate second-harmonic generation response of 0.

Collaborative Governance Strategies for Fever Clinics: A Multi-Scenario Evolutionary Game Analysis.

Purpose: China's fever clinics succeeded during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic but revealed operational deficiencies. This study explores multiparty coordination mechanisms in fever clinics to improve collaborative management and efficiency in epidemic control.

Patients And Methods: A tripartite evolutionary game model was constructed, involving "primary healthcare institutions-non-primary healthcare institutions-government" to analyze the evolutionary stable strategies among these entities in different scenarios.

Core capabilities of Chinese centers for disease control and prevention public health personnel: a network analysis from Northeast China.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the continued inadequacy of the capability of Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) public health personnel to respond effectively to emerging infectious disease outbreaks, as well as the urgent need for specific tools to assess the capability needed by CDC public health personnel in the post-pandemic era. Using network analysis, we aimed to analyze the comprehensive capacities of CDC public health staff and the relationships between these capacities. We also examined the impact of standardized public health training on their capacities and provided actionable recommendations for improving their training and overall capability.

Chlorophyll-Based Optogenetics to Control Membraneless Organelles.

Membraneless organelles (MLOs) formed via protein phase separation have garnered significant attention recently due to their relevance to cellular physiology and pathology. However, there is a lack of tools available to study their behavior and control their bioactivity in complex biological systems. This chapter describes a new optogenetic tool based on water-soluble chlorophyll protein (WSCP), a red light-induced singlet oxygen-generating protein, to control synthetic MLOs.

Control Intracellular Protein Condensates with Light.

Protein phase transitions are gaining traction among biologists for their wide-ranging roles in biological regulation. However, achieving precise control over these phenomena in vivo remains a formidable task. Optogenetic techniques present us with a potential means to control protein phase behavior with spatiotemporal precision.

In Fanconi anemia, impaired accumulation of bone marrow neutrophils during emergency granulopoiesis induces hematopoietic stem cell stress.

Fanconi anemia (FA) is an inherited disorder of DNA repair due to mutation in one of 20+ interrelated genes that repair intrastrand DNA crosslinks and rescue collapsed or stalled replication forks. The most common hematologic abnormality in FA is anemia, but progression to bone marrow failure (BMF), clonal hematopoiesis, or acute myeloid leukemia may also occur. In prior studies, we found that Fanconi DNA repair is required for successful emergency granulopoiesis; the process for rapid neutrophil production during the innate immune response.

A highly birefringent metal-free crystal assembled by cooperative non-covalent interactions.

Birefringent crystals can manipulate the phase and polarization of light, so they are widely used as essential components in various optical devices. Common strategies to construct birefringent crystals are introducing metal cations that are either able to realize favorable coordination with functional anionic units or are susceptible to polarizability anisotropy. Herein, we report a metal-free crystal, NH(HCNO)·2HO, synthesized using the facile solution method.

Deep-Ultraviolet Bialkali-Rare Earth Metal Anhydrous Sulfate Birefringent Crystal.

Birefringence is an important linear optical property of anisotropic crystals that plays a significant role in regulating light polarization. A new bialkali-rare earth metal sulfate, NaRbY(SO) compound, consisting of non-π-conjugated alkali metals and rare earth metal-centered dodecahedral YO has been synthesized. The structure analysis suggests that the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the compound is found to be attributable to the combination of dodecahedral YO and tetrahedral SO groups with Na and Rb located in the cavities.

Research space telescope deployable mechanism variable diameter internal drive device elastic collision contact characteristics in the inter-stage transition.

To address the problem of elastic contact discrepancies between a variable-diameter internal drive device and a non-continuous surface during the transition, caused by the vibrations resulting from elastic collision impact when the motion speed of the elastic body increases, the following steps were taken. First, we established models for elastic collision, impact, and vibration during the inter-stage transition to analyze how motion speed and preload affect the elastic contact characteristics between the two components. Subsequently, we employed the finite element method to further analyze the elastic contact state, using identical loads but varying motion speeds and radial preloads as boundary conditions.

Designing a Hybrid Perovskite with Enlarged Birefringence and Bandgap for Modulation of Light Polarization.

Birefringent crystals have important applications in optoelectronics areas due to their ability to modulate and polarize light. Despite increasing discovery of the birefringence potential of new crystals, it remains a great challenge to optimize both birefringence and bandgap simultaneously. Herein, a 1D chain-like hybrid perovskite birefringent crystal designed by 3D-to-1D dimensional tailoring, (GAM) PbI ·H O (GAM = C N H ), is presented, showing enlarged birefringence of 0.

Cutting depth-oriented ductile machining of infrared micro-lens arrays by elliptical vibration cutting.

Infrared micro-lens arrays (MLAs) are widely used in advanced optical systems due to their advantages such as low focusing depth and high sensitivity. Elliptical vibration cutting (EVC) is a promising approach for the fabrication of MLAs on infrared brittle materials. However, the mechanism of ductile machining of MLAs prepared by EVC has not been fully elucidated so far.

A Two-Dimensional Hybrid Perovskite With Heat Switching Birefringence.

Birefringent crystals that can switch light polarization have important applications in optoelectronics. In the last decades, birefringence is mostly optimized by chemical strategies. Recently, switching birefringence by physical means has attracted much attention.

A Non-π-Conjugated Molecular Crystal with Balanced Second-Harmonic Generation, Bandgap, and Birefringence.

Traditional nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals are exclusively limited to ionic crystals with π-conjugated groups and it is a great challenge to achieve a subtle balance between second-harmonic generation, bandgap, and birefringence for them, especially in the deep-UV spectrum region (E  > 6.20 eV). Herein, a non-π-conjugated molecular crystal, NH BH , which realizes such balance with a large second-harmonic generation response (2.

Designing a Dimension Reduced Hybrid Perovskite with Robust Large Birefringence by Expanding Cationic π-Delocation.

It is in great demand to discover new materials with large birefringence for the miniaturization of optical communication devices. In this work, a new one-dimensional hybrid halide perovskite, (C N H )Pb Br , is obtained successfully through structural design of dimension reduction from the notable three-dimensional halide perovskite CsPbBr . Remarkably, (C N H )Pb Br exhibits a significantly enhanced birefringence of ∆n = 0.

Mixed Alkali Metal and Alkaline Earth Metal Scandium Borate Birefringence Material with Layered Structure and Short Ultraviolet Cutoff Edge.

Birefringent crystals are essential in the domains of linear and nonlinear optics that need light wave polarization control. Rare earth borate has become a popular study material for ultraviolet (UV) birefringence crystals due to its short cutoff edge in the UV area. RbBaScBO, a two-dimensional layered structure compound with the BO group, was effectively synthesized through spontaneous crystallization.

Factors and key problems influencing insured's poor perceptions of convenience of basic medical insurance: a mixed methods research of a northern city in China.

Background: This study aimed to explore the factors that affect insured's perceptions of convenience of the basic medical insurance (PCBMI) in Harbin, China and to diagnose the key problems to further propose corresponding measures. The findings provide evidence-based support for the reform of convenience of the basic medical insurance system (BMIS) and the cultivation of public literacy.

Methods: We adopted a mixed methods design composing a multivariate regression model using the data from a cross-sectional questionnaire survey (n = 1045) of residents who were enrolled for BMIS in Harbin to identify the factors influencing the PCBMI.