Dihedral Restrained Molecular Dynamics Aligns Simulated and Experimental Crystallinity in Organic Solar Cells.

Organic solar cells (OSCs) present an efficient, low-cost alternative for renewable energy applications, with recent advancements driven by the development of nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) that have significantly improved the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of OSCs to over 20%, narrowing the performance gap with other types of solar cells. The molecular stacking in the active layer is crucially important for highly efficient energy conversion; however, experimental techniques still face limitations in capturing the detailed structural information at the molecular level. To address this challenge, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations could provide atomistic insight into molecular configurations, offering opportunities to optimize the morphology in the active layer.

Multiresonant Framework-Perturbed Platinum(II) Complexes Enable Efficient Narrowband Red Phosphorescence Emissions.

While considerable research efforts have been devoted to developing narrowband B,N-embedded multiple resonance (BN-MR) emitters, despite the formidable challenge, the design of efficient narrowband red phosphors has been overlooked. Herein, we present a design strategy that perpendicularly integrates BN-MR frameworks into a weakly emissive tetradentate Pt(II) complex to achieve efficient narrowband phosphors. Accordingly, we synthesized two novel emitters, BCzBN-PyPt and DPABN-PyPt.

Achieving small singlet-triplet energy gaps in polycyclic heteroaromatic emitters.

In polycyclic heteroaromatic (PHA) emitters, which possess great potential for application in ultrahigh-definition displays, the origin of a small singlet-triplet energy gap (ΔE) and its relationship with the molecular structure still remain poorly established. Here we derive an effective expression for ΔE, in which ΔE positively depends on 2K (where K is the exchange energy between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO)) and on the energy gap between LUMO and LUMO + 1 (ΔE). This expression for ΔE is validated over a series of 100 reported PHA emitters.

Organic full-color narrowband afterglow.

Developing a facile and universally applicable strategy to achieve organic full-color narrowband afterglow (OFNA) is highly desirable, as it meets the strategic demands for low-cost and high-color-purity displays in flexible electronics. Here, OFNA is achieved through a general protocol involving the mixing, melting, and cooling of panchromatic boron-nitrogen-containing multiple resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) emitters with a host matrix, tri(2-methylphenyl)phosphine oxide (TTPO), followed by photoactivation. The emission peaks of OFNA range from 468 to 669 nm, with full-width at half-maximum values of ≤0.

High-Efficiency and High Color Purity Solution-Processable Deep-Blue OLEDs Enabled by Linearly Fully Fused Acceptor-Donor-Acceptor Molecular Design.

Solution-processable organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have attracted much attention from academia and industry because of their advantages such as low production cost and suitability for large-scale production. However, solution-processable deep-blue OLEDs that simultaneously have high efficiencies and satisfy the BT.2020 standard remain still a great challenge.

Stable narrowband blue OLEDs by modulating frontier molecular orbital levels.

Energy level alignment of frontier molecular orbital (FMO) is essential for controlling charge carrier and exciton dynamics in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). However, multiple resonance (MR) emitters with exceptional narrowband luminescence typically suffer from inadequate FMO levels. Herein, a conventional blue MR prototype with a shallow highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level of -5.

Tumor microenvironment and immune-related myositis: addressing muscle wasting in cancer immunotherapy.

Cancer immunotherapy, which leverages the immune system to target neoplastic cells, has undergone significant transformation in recent. However, immunotherapy may have negative effects on skeletal muscle function, causing muscle wasting and functional decline in cancer patients. In this study, we review the mechanisms by which immunotherapy influences skeletal muscle, focusing on immune-related myositis, inflammation, and metabolic alterations within the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Achieving Uniform Phase Structure for Layer-by-Layer Processed Binary Organic Solar Cells with 20.2% Efficiency.

Layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition has become a facile and promising method to fabricate highly efficient organic solar cells (OSCs). However, characterization and optimization of 3D morphology remain a grand challenge for LBL-processed active layers, and their correlation with photovoltaic properties of OSC devices is not clear to date. Here, to address this issue, the morphology and its formation mechanisms of LBL-processed active layer based on the classical D18/L8-BO blend were investigated systematically.

Peripheral Engineering of Multiple-Resonance Framework Targeting Efficient Organic Lasers.

Multiple-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescent (MR-TADF) emitters have emerged as promising candidates for organic laser applications due to the potential for simultaneously achieving large oscillator strength and triplet utilization. In this study, we investigate the impact of peripheral tert-butyl (t-Bu)- and phenyl (Ph)-substituents on the typical 9-(phenylcarbazol-3-yl)-9H-carbazole-3-carbonitrile (CzBN) MR framework. Although these modifications preserve the frontier molecular orbital distribution with large oscillator strengths, they significantly influence excited-state dynamics and molecular aggregation even at low doping concentrations.

Survival and Perioperative Outcomes After Addition of Immunotherapy to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for the Treatment of Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Currently, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy combined with immunotherapy (NCRI) for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is attracting attention. The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes and survival between patients receiving NCRI and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) followed by surgery.

Methods: This study retrospectively included patients with locally advanced ESCC and treated with NCRI or NCRT followed by esophagectomy.

Blue organic long-persistent luminescence via upconversion from charge-transfer to locally excited singlet state.

Long-persistent luminescence (LPL) materials have applications from safety signage to bioimaging; however, existing organic LPL (OLPL) systems do not align with human scotopic vision, which is sensitive to blue light. We present a strategy to blueshift the emissions in binary OLPL systems by upconverting the charge-transfer (CT) to a locally excited (LE) singlet state. Through rigorous steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy and wavelength-resolved thermoluminescence measurements, we provide the direct experimental evidence for this upconversion in OLPL systems featuring small energy offsets between the lowest-energy CT and LE singlet states.

Blocking Orbital π-Conjugation to Boost Spin-Orbit Coupling in Carbonyl-Embedded Polycyclic Heteroaromatic Emitters.

Both reducing singlet-triplet energy gaps (ΔE) and enhancing spin-orbit couplings (SOCs) are key to improving reverse intersystem crossing rates (k) in thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials. While considerable efforts have focused on reducing ΔE, investigations on SOCs remain limited. Here, blocking π-conjugation in carbonyl-embedded polycyclic heteroaromatic (PHA) molecules as potential approach to elevate ππ* excitation energy, allowing its hybridization with nπ* excitation, thereby increasing SOCs is proposed.

NIR-II Emissive Persistent Neutral π-Radical with Rapid Doublet Internal Conversion for Efficient Cancer Photothermal Theranostics.

Organic radicals are considered prospective materials for near-infrared (NIR) photothermal applications, however, sustainability remains the major obstacle of recently reported ionic radical photothermal agents. This work achieved robust sustainability on a series of neutral π-radicals through rational design donor (D)-acceptor (A). With efficient doublet internal conversion, 10H-spiro(acridine-9,9'-fluorene) (SFA)-BTM presented strong NIR absorption extended to 1000 nm and efficient non-radiative relaxation.

Development and validation of the systemic nutrition/inflammation index for improving perioperative management of non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Systemic nutrition and inflammation status is recognized for its influence on cancer survival, yet its role in perioperative outcomes remains poorly defined. This study aimed to refine the assessment of systemic nutrition and inflammation status in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and to elucidate its impact on perioperative outcomes.

Methods: All patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy, with their nutrition and inflammation status assessed based on preoperative blood tests.

Synthesis of Selenium-Doped Heteroacenes: Unveiling the External Heavy-Atom Effect in Host Materials.

The internal heavy-atom effect (IHAE) has garnered considerable attention as a promising approach for developing highly efficient emitters in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Nevertheless, the external heavy-atom effect (EHAE) in host materials, despite being equally important, has been largely overlooked. In this study, we introduce a selenium-doping strategy to unlock the potential of EHAE in host molecules.

Low-Volatility Fused-Ring Solid Additive Engineering for Synergistically Elongating Exciton Lifetime and Mitigating Trap Density Toward Organic Solar Cells of 20.5% Efficiency.

Volatile solid additives (VSAs) with single or fused-ring structures have attracted much attention for enhancing power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of organic solar cells (OSCs). While the working mechanisms of high-volatility single-ring additives have been well studied, the influence of low-volatility fused-ring VSAs on molecular aggregations and exciton/carrier dynamics remains still unclear. Herein, 3,6-dibromothieno[3,2-b]thiophene (3,6TTBr) is selected as a representative low-volatility fused-ring VSA to elucidate its working mechanism.

Non-fullerene acceptors with high crystallinity and photoluminescence quantum yield enable >20% efficiency organic solar cells.

The rational design of non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) with both high crystallinity and photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) is of crucial importance for achieving high-efficiency and low-energy-loss organic solar cells (OSCs). However, increasing the crystallinity of an NFA tends to decrease its PLQY, which results in a high non-radiative energy loss in OSCs. Here we demonstrate that the crystallinity and PLQY of NFAs can be fine-tuned by asymmetrically adapting the branching position of alkyl chains on the thiophene unit of the L8-BO acceptor.

Donor-Interacting Arylated Carbazole Self-Assembled Monolayer Enables Highly Efficient and Stable Organic Photovoltaics.

Carbazole-derived self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are promising materials for hole-extraction layer (HEL) in conventional organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Here, a SAM Cbz-2Ph derived from 3,6-diphenylcarbazole is demonstrated. The large molecular dipole moment of Cbz-2Ph allows the modulation of electrode work function to facilitate hole extraction and maximize photovoltage, thus improving the OPV performance.

Lymph Node Metastasis for pN+ Superficial Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze lymph node metastasis (LNM) distribution in superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its impact factors on survival.

Methods: We reviewed 241 pT1N+ ESCC cases between February 2012 and April 2022 from 10 Chinese hospitals with a high volume of esophageal cancer (EC). We analyzed clinicopathological data to identify overall survival (OS) risk factors and LNM distribution in relation to tumor invasion depth.

Multimodality Therapy and Survival Outcomes in Resectable Primary Small Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Currently, optimal treatment strategy for resectable primary small cell carcinoma of the esophagus (PSmCCE) remains controversial. To address this, we conducted a multicenter study to evaluate treatment patterns and long-term survival of PSmCCE patients who underwent radical resection.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included resected PSmCCE patients who received radical resection at seven high-volume cancer centers.

Chemoradiotherapy and Subsequent Immunochemotherapy as Conversion Therapy in Unresectable Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Phase II NEXUS-1 Trial.

Purpose: This phase II trial investigated the safety and efficacy of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by immunochemotherapy (iCT) and surgery in unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Patients And Methods: Patients with unresectable locally advanced ESCC received radiotherapy (50 Gy/25f, 5 days/week) and nab-paclitaxel (100 mg on day 1/week) plus cisplatin (25 mg/m2 on day 1/week) for 5 weeks, followed by tislelizumab (200 mg on day 1/cycle) plus chemotherapy (nab-paclitaxel 150 mg/m2 and cisplatin 75 mg/m2 on day 2/cycle) for two 21-day cycles. Patients who converted to resectable underwent surgery 2 to 4 weeks afterward.

S-1-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy plus nimotuzumab in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who failed neoadjuvant therapy: a real-world prospective study.

Purpose: This prospective study in a real-world setting investigated the feasibility and safety of S-1 plus nimotuzumab (S-1-Nimo) based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESCC) patients who failed to neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy.

Methods: LA-ESCC patients who failed to converse to resectable disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoimmunotherapy were enrolled to receive the 4-week S-1-Nimo regimen of radiotherapy (40 Gy in 20 fractions, 5 days per week), S-1 chemotherapy, and nimotuzumab. Then, after surgical assessments, patients evaluated as resectable disease received surgery; patients with unresectable disease continued to receive definitive radiotherapy (50-60 Gy in 25-30 fractions, 5 days per week) concurrently with S-1-Nimo.

Stepwise One-Shot Borylation Reactions for Intersecting DABNA Substructures Exhibiting Bright Yellow-Green Electroluminescence with EQE Beyond 40 % and Mild Roll-Off.

Boron/nitrogen (B/N)-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with the multiple resonance (MR) effect are promising for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) because of their narrowband emission and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) characteristics. Nevertheless, exploring the variety of such emitters is challenging because of the tricky and limited synthetic protocols. Herein, we designed a novel B/N-doped PAH, L-DABNA-1, whose backbone (L-DABNA) could not be achieved via conventional routes (e.