Flexible assembly of the PEDOT: PSS/ exfoliated β-Ga2O3 microwire hybrid heterojunction for high-performance self-powered solar-blind photodetector

Motivated by the goals of fabricating highly reliable, high performance, and cost-efficient self-powered photodetector (PD) for numerous scientific research and civil fields, an organic-inorganic hybrid solar-blind ultraviolet (UV) PD based on PEDOT: PSS/exfoliated β-Ga₂O₃ microwire heterojunction was fabricated by a flexible and cost-effective assembly method. Benefiting from the heterojunction constructed by the highly crystalline β-Ga₂O₃ and the excellent hole transport layer PEDOT: PSS, the device presents a high responsivity of 39.8 mA/W at 250 nm and a sharp cut-off edge at 280 nm without any power supply. Additionally, the ultra-high normalized photo-to-dark current ratio (> 10⁴ mW^-1cm²) under reverse bias and the superior detectivity of 2.4×10¹² Jones at zero bias demonstrate the excellent detection capabilities. Furthermore, the hybrid PD exhibits a rapid rise time (several milliseconds) and high rejection ratio (R₂₅₀/R₃₆₅: 5.8 × 10³), which further highlights its good spectral selectivity for solar-blind UV. The prominent performance is mainly ascribed to the efficient separation of the photogenerated carriers by the large built-in electric field of the advanced heterojunction. This flexible assembly strategy for solar-blind UV PD combines the advantages of high efficiency, low cost and high performance, providing more potential for PD investigation and application in the future.

[Association between the presence of solid or micropapillary components and survival outcome in stage ⅠA lung adenocarcinoma cases: a retrospective cohort study]

Objectives: To examine the influence of the proportion of pathological subtypes on the prognosis of stage ⅠA lung adenocarcinoma cases, and to explore the association between the presence/absence of solid or micropapillary (S/M) components and survival outcome. Methods: Totally 321 patients with stage ⅠA lung adenocarcinoma who received complete surgical resection at Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji University Affiliated Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital from January 2011 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 130 males and 191 females, aging 59(11) years (M(IQR)) (range: 55 to 66 years). The diagnostic value of the proportion of each pathological growth subtype on relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed by using receiver operator characteristic curve. Patients were firstly divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of S/M components. And patients without S/M components were farther divided into two groups according to predominant growth pattern. There were three groups in total: with S/M components (group S/M⁺), without S/M components and lepidic growth pattern predominant (group S/M^-LPA), without S/M components and papillary or acinar growth pattern predominant (group S/M^-P/A). Kaplan-Meier method were used to draw the survival curves of the three groups, and Log-rank test were used to compare RFS and OS among the three groups. Cox proportional risk model was used to verify whether the presence of S/M components was a prognostic factor on RFS. Results: The proportion of S/M components had no diagnostic value for recurrence (solid: area under curve (AUC)=0.588, P=0.095; micropapillary: AUC=0.566, P=0.106) and death (AUC=0.589, P=0.104; AUC=0.607, P=0.056). The 5-year RFS rate of group S/M^-LPA, S/M^-P/A and S/M⁺ were 92.4%, 82.3% and 77.3%, respectively (all P<0.05), while the 5-year OS rate were 97.4%, 94.5% and 83.2%, respectively (all P<0.05). Multivariable analysis showed that the 3 groups were independent predictors of recurrence (S/M^-P/A vs. S/M^- LPA: HR=2.691, 95%CI: 1.249 to 5.799, P=0.011; S/M⁺ vs. S/M^-LPA, HR=6.763, 95%CI: 3.050 to 14.996, P<0.01). Conclusions: The proportion of S/M components in stage ⅠA lung adenocarcinoma with complete resection cases did not affect survival outcome. New grouping method based on the presence or absence of S/M components were significantly associated with patient survival outcomes: S/M⁺ patients had the worst prognosis and S/M^-LPA patients had the best prognosis.

Quantum Gaussian process model of potential energy surface for a polyatomic molecule

With gates of a quantum computer designed to encode multi-dimensional vectors, projections of quantum computer states onto specific qubit states can produce kernels of reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces. We show that quantum kernels obtained with a fixed ansatz implementable on current quantum computers can be used for accurate regression models of global potential energy surfaces (PESs) for polyatomic molecules. To obtain accurate regression models, we apply Bayesian optimization to maximize marginal likelihood by varying the parameters of the quantum gates. This yields Gaussian process models with quantum kernels. We illustrate the effect of qubit entanglement in the quantum kernels and explore the generalization performance of quantum Gaussian processes by extrapolating global six-dimensional PESs in the energy domain.

Ionic Liquid Passivation Eliminates Low-n Quantum Well Domains in Blue Quasi-2D Perovskite Films

In quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) perovskite films, carriers transport in the cascade structural systems involving various quantum wells (QWs) n, but their efficiency is limited by the severe nonradiative recombination within plentiful n = 1, 2, 3 domains induced by traditional ammonium bromide passivation. Here, we fabricate the quasi-2D films with the elimination of n = 1, 2, 3 domains by introducing the ionic liquid n-butylamine acetate (BAAc) instead of n-butylamine hydrobromide (BABr), which increases the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and lowers the surface roughness of films. Due to the anion exchange between BAAc and methylamine hydrobromide (MABr), BAAc exhibits a sole passivation effect on methylamine-based perovskites. As a result, the ionic liquid-derived perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) display blue emission at 479 nm and show significantly improved performance on external quantum efficiency (EQE) and luminance. Our finding provides insights into the passivating effect of ionic liquid on quasi-2D perovskites and will benefit fabricating PeLEDs with enhanced performance.

Growth of InGaN-based blue-LED on AlN/sapphire sputtered with different oxygen flow rate

Indium gallium nitride (InGaN) based blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) suffer from insufficient crystal quality and serious efficiency droop in large forward current. In this paper, the InGaN-based blue LEDs are grown on sputtered aluminum nitride (AlN) films to improve the device light power and weaken the efficiency droop. The effects of oxygen flow rate on the sputtering of AlN films on sapphire and device performance of blue LEDs are studied in detail. The mechanism of external quantum efficiency improvement is related to the change of V-pits density in multiple quantum wells. The external quantum efficiency of 66% and 3-V operating voltage are measured at a 40-mA forward current of with the optimal oxygen flow rate of 4 SCCM.

[HCV and Treponema pallidum infection status in HIV/AIDS cases in Yunnan province, January-June, 2020]

Objective: To understand the infection status of HCV and Treponema pallidum (TP) in HIV/AIDS cases in Yunnan province,and identify the risk factors. Methods: Between January 1 and June 30 in 2020,a cross-sectional survey was conducted in Yunnan. Two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to detect anti-HCV, the positive results of both two kits indicated HCV infection. ELISA and syphilis toluidine red untreated serum test were applied to identify TP infection. Both Excel 2016 and SPSS 22.0 software were used for statistical analysis, and logistic regression model was conducted to identify the relevant factors of HCV and TP infection. Results: A total of 5 922 HIV/AIDS cases were included in this study, the infection rates of HCV and TP were 6.5% (383/5 922) and 5.8% (344/5 922) respectively. The co-infection rate of HCV and TP was 0.4% (22/5 922). The risk for HCV infection in HIV/AIDS cases was higher in younger age groups compared with age group ≥50 years (15-19:aOR=3.53;20-29:aOR=3.02;30-39:aOR=2.91;40-49:aOR=3.61), in males than in females (aOR=2.31), in the married and unmarried than in the divorced or widowed (married:aOR=1.61;unmarried:aOR=1.63), in other ethnic groups than in Han ethnic group (aOR=1.70), in people with lower education level than in people with education level of college and above (primary school degree and below:aOR=4.69;middle school:aOR=3.96), in people living in the central and western Yunnan than in people living in eastern Yunnan (central Yunnan:aOR=2.46; western Yunnan:aOR=7.08), in injection drug users than in MSM (aOR=131.08). The risk of TP infection in HIV/AIDS cases was higher in people with education level of college and primary school than in middle school degree (primary school and below:aOR=1.73;college and above:aOR=1.77), in people with other occupations than in farmers (aOR=1.39), in people living in eastern Yunnan than in people living in western Yunnan (aOR=1.75); in MSM than in people with heterosex (aOR=9.75). Conclusions: A certain proportion of HIV/AIDS cases reported between January and June in 2020 in Yunnan were co-infected with HCV and TP, many factors were associated with the co-infection. It is suggested to strengthen HCV and TP tests in HIV/AIDS cases and conduct active treatment of the co-infection.

P–568 Homozygous Pathogenic Variants in ACTL9 Cause Fertilization Failure and Male Infertility in Human and Mouse

Study question

What are the other male factors that cause total fertilization failure (TFF) excepting for variants in PLCZ1?

Summary answer

Homozygous variants in ACTL9 (actin like 9) cause abnormal localization of PLCζ in a loosened perinuclear theca (PT) structure and leads to TFF.

What is known already

In previous studies, investigators have reported that the female factors in TFF after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) include pathogenic variants in WEE2, TLE6, and TUBB8, whereas for male factors, pathogenic variants in PLCZ1 were reported to be the primary cause of TFF, which account for approximately 30% of couples with male factors in TFF excluding globozoospermia. Most recently, it was reported that pathogenic variants in ACTL7A led to reduced expression and abnormal localization of PLCζ, thereby identifying this genetic variant as a potential cause of TFF.

Study design, size, duration

Fifty-four infertile couples with TFF or poor fertilization (fertilization rate of &lt; 20%) at the Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya during January 2014 to June 2020 were recruited into this study.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Male factors were identified in (MOAT). WES analysis was used to analyze the genetic factors of individuals with male factors. Sperm morphological study was conducted by H&E staining and TEM. Immunostaining of PLCζ was used to analyze the status of sperm-borne activation factor. A knock-in mouse model was generated by CRISPER-Cas9 technology. Sperm from homozygous Actl9 variant mice were analyzed by TEM and ICSI. ICSI with AOA was performed in couples with ACTL9 variants.

Main results and the role of chance

A total of 54 couples with TFF or poor fertilization were screened, with 21 couples determined to have a male infertility factor by MOAT. Whole-exome sequencing of these 21 male individuals identified three homozygous pathogenic variants in ACTL9 in three individuals. ACTL9 variations led to abnormal ultrastructure of the PT, with PLCζ absent in the head and present in the neck of the mutant sperm, which contributed to failed normal calcium oscillations in oocytes and subsequent TFF. The key roles of ACTL9 in the PT structure and TFF after ICSI were further confirmed in Actl9-mutated mouse model. Furthermore, assisted oocyte activation by calcium ionophore exposure successfully overcame TFF and achieved live births in a couple with an ACTL9 variant.

Limitations, reasons for caution

The mechanism of how ACTL9 regulate PLCζ remains unknown.

Wider implications of the findings: It provided a genetic marker and a therapeutic option for individuals who have undergone ICSI without successful fertilization.

Trial registration number

not applioable

Near-octave-spanning breathing soliton crystal in an AlN microresonator

The soliton crystal (SC) was recently discovered as an extraordinary Kerr soliton state with regularly distributed soliton pulses and enhanced comb line power spaced by multiples of the cavity free spectral ranges (FSRs), which will significantly extend the application potential of microcombs in optical clock, signal processing, and terahertz wave systems. However, the reported SC spectra are generally narrow. In this Letter, we demonstrate the generation of a breathing SC in an aluminum nitride (AlN) microresonator (FSR ∼374GHz), featuring a near-octave-spanning (1150-2200 nm) spectral range and a terahertz repetition rate of ∼1.87THz. The measured 60 fs short pulses and low intensity-noise characteristics confirm the high coherence of the breathing SC. Broadband microcombs with various repetition rates of ∼0.75, ∼1.12, and ∼1.5THz were also realized in different microresonators of the same size. The proposed scheme shows a reliable design strategy for broadband soliton generation with versatile dynamic control over the comb line spacing.

TDP-43 maintains chondrocyte homeostasis and alleviates cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent age-related disorder due to cartilage degradation. Previous studies have identified aberrant chondrocyte homeostasis under extracellular stress as a key pathological mechanism behind cartilage degradation in OA. TDP-43, a DNA/RNA-binding protein has been demonstrated to participate in processing many extracellular stress responses; however, understanding of the role of TDP-43 in OA is limited. This study aims to investigate the role of TDP-43 in chondrocyte homeostasis and cartilage degradation in OA.

METHODS

The role of TDP-43 during degradation of cartilage is examined by experimental posttraumatic OA animal models and human cartilage specimens. Cartilage degradation is assessed by histological analysis, qPCR, and Western blot. The molecular mechanisms are investigated in vitro using human primary chondrocytes.

RESULTS

TDP-43 decreases significantly in degenerated cartilage. TDP-43 concentration is positively correlated with IL-1β concentration in synovial fluid derived from OA patients (Pearson r = 0.95, CI (95%) [0.80, 0.99], P < 0.0001). Intra-articular injection of recombinant TDP-43 significantly alleviates cartilage degradation and subchondral bone remodeling in vivo. In vitro mechanistic analyses show that TDP-43 maintains chondrocyte homeostasis under oxidative stress through regulating stress granule dynamics via G3BP1.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicates that TDP-43 maintains chondrocyte homeostasis under oxidative stress and alleviates cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis, identifying TDP-43 as a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of knee OA.

Experimental Observation and Spin Texture of Dirac Node Arcs in Tetradymite Topological Metals

We report the observation of a nontrivial spin texture in Dirac node arcs, i.e., novel topological objects formed when Dirac cones of massless particles extend along an open one-dimensional line in momentum space. We find that such states are present in all the compounds of the tetradymite M_{2}Te_{2}X family (M=Ti, Zr, or Hf and X=P or As) regardless of the weak or strong character of the topological invariant. The Dirac node arcs in tetradymites are thus the simplest possible textbook example of a type-I Dirac system with a single spin-polarized node arc.

CircRNA UBAP2 facilitates the progression of colorectal cancer by regulating miR-199a/VEGFA pathway

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to explore the regulatory mechanism of circRNA UBAP2 (circUBAP2) in colorectal cancer (CRC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expression levels of circUBAP2, miR-199a, and VEGFA in tissues and cell lines were detected by RT-qPCR. The cell proliferation was examined by CCK-8 and colony formation assays. The migration and invasion abilities were evaluated by wound healing and transwell assays, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis and Luciferase activity assay were applied to determine the interaction between genes.

RESULTS

The expression of circUBAP2 was upregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines, and depletion of circUBAP2 suppressed the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC. Furthermore, miR-199a inhibitor abrogated the suppressive effect of circUBAP2 knockdown on CRC progression. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) was identified as a downstream target gene of miR-199a, and overexpression of VEGFA rescued the tumor phenotypes attenuated by circUBAP2 knockdown or miR-199a overexpression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrated that circUBAP2 facilitated CRC progression by sponging miR-199a to upregulate VEGFA. These findings implied that circUBAP2 may be a potential therapeutic biomarker for CRC.

Full wafer scale electroluminescence properties of AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet LEDs with different well widths

Deep ultraviolet (DUV) LEDs have great potential in sterilization, water, air purification, and other fields. In this work, DUV LED wafers with different quantum well (QW) widths were grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. It is found that the light output power (LOP) and peak wavelength of all chips are not only related to the QW thickness but also affected by warpage. For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, a positive correlation between the LOP and peak wavelength of DUV LED chips on the same wafer was observed, which is very important for improving the yield of DUV LEDs and reducing costs. Furthermore, the influence of QW thickness on the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of DUV LED has also been investigated. As the thickness of the QW increases, the exciton localization effect decreases and the quantum confinement Stark effect increases. Consequently, DUV LED wafers with a QW thickness of 2 nm have the highest EQE and yield. These findings not only help to improve the efficiency of DUV LEDs but also provide new insights for evaluating the performance of DUV LED wafers.

Blackbody-sensitive room-temperature infrared photodetectors based on low-dimensional tellurium grown by chemical vapor deposition

Blackbody-sensitive room-temperature infrared detection is a notable development direction for future low-dimensional infrared photodetectors. However, because of the limitations of responsivity and spectral response range for low-dimensional narrow bandgap semiconductors, few low-dimensional infrared photodetectors exhibit blackbody sensitivity. Here, highly crystalline tellurium (Te) nanowires and two-dimensional nanosheets were synthesized by using chemical vapor deposition. The low-dimensional Te shows high hole mobility and broadband detection. The blackbody-sensitive infrared detection of Te devices was demonstrated. A high responsivity of 6650 A W-1 (at 1550-nm laser) and the blackbody responsivity of 5.19 A W-1 were achieved. High-resolution imaging based on Te photodetectors was successfully obtained. All the results suggest that the chemical vapor deposition-grown low-dimensional Te is one of the competitive candidates for sensitive focal-plane-array infrared photodetectors at room temperature.

Influence of miR-155 on behaviors of depression mice through regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To study the influence of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-155 on depression-like behaviors of depression mice, and to explore the role of Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway in behavioral regulation of depression mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The mouse model of depression was established via chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). All mice were randomly divided into control group (n=12), model group (n=12), and fluoxetine group (n=12). The expression level of miR-155 in the hippocampus of mice in each group was detected via quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). The changes in the behaviors of mice in each group were evaluated via behavioral experiments. The apoptosis level in the hippocampus of mice in each group was detected via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Moreover, the content of inflammatory factors in the hippocampus of mice in each group was detected using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The expression levels of Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins in each group were detected via Western blotting.

RESULTS

The expression level of miR-155 in the hippocampus was significantly higher in model group than that in control group (p<0.01). Meanwhile, the expression level of miR-155 was significantly lower in fluoxetine group than that in model group (p<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in the crossing score and rearing score in the open field test among groups (p>0.05). Compared with those in control group, the immobility time in tail suspension test and forced swimming test were significantly increased (p<0.01), while the sucrose preference degree significantly declined (p<0.01) in model group. Fluoxetine could significantly reduce the immobility time in tail suspension test and forced swimming test (p<0.01) and increase the sucrose preference degree (p<0.01) in model group. The number of TUNEL-positive cells in the hippocampus of mice in model group was significantly larger than that in control group (p<0.01). Fluoxetine could effectively reduce the number of TUNEL-positive cells in the hippocampus (p<0.01). Compared with those in control group, the content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-a), interleukin-1b (IL-1b), and IL-6 in the hippocampus was significantly increased (p<0.01), while the content of IL-10 was significantly decreased (p<0.01) in model group. Fluoxetine could effectively reduce the content of TNF-a, IL-1b, and IL-6 (p<0.01) and increase the content of IL-10 (p<0.01). Besides, in model group, the expression levels of dishevelled-1 (DVL-1) and b-catenin in hippocampus remarkably declined (p<0.01), while the expression levels of glycogen synthase kinase-3b (GSK-3b) and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) were remarkably increased (p<0.01) compared with those in control group. Fluoxetine could effectively lower the expressions of GSK-3b and APC in the hippocampus (p<0.01) and increase the expressions of DVL-1 and b-catenin (p<0.01) in model group.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-155 is involved in regulating the depression-like behaviors of depression mice through promoting the release of inflammatory factors and the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway.

Octave-spanning Kerr frequency comb generation with stimulated Raman scattering in an AlN microresonator

Octave-spanning optical frequency combs (OFCs) are essential for various applications, such as precision metrology and astrophysical spectrometer calibration. In this Letter, we demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, the generation of octave-spanning Kerr frequency combs ranging from 1150 to 2400 nm in aluminum nitride (AlN) microring resonators, by pumping the TM₀₀ modes at 250 mW on-chip power. By simply adjusting the pump detuning, we observe the transition and coexistence of Kerr OFC and stimulated Raman scattering. For the TE₀₀ mode in the same device, a broadband Raman-assisted frequency comb is demonstrated by adjusting the pump power and tuning. These results indicate a crucial development for the fundamentals of nonlinear dynamics and comb applications in AlN.

MicroRNA-596 is epigenetically inactivated and suppresses prostatic cancer cell growth and migration via regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling

OBJECTIVES

Although studies have reported that miR-596 extensively participates in multiple cancer progression, the biological mechanisms and effects of miR-596 in prostatic cancer remain unclear. The literature is aimed to reveal the function and possible molecular mechanisms of miR-596 in prostatic cancer carcinogenesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

qRT-PCR was applied to examine miR-596 expression in prostatic cancer cell lines and samples, also methylation-specific PCR was used to detect the methylation status of the promoter CpG islands in prostatic cancer samples. Meanwhile, the tumor-related effects of miR-596 were detected via cell viability, clone formation assay, migration assay, flow cytometric and AO/EB assay. qRT-PCR and Western blots were applied to investigate the function of miR-596 on malignant behavior in prostatic cancer cells.

RESULTS

We found that miR-596 mRNA was decreased in prostatic cancer samples and cell lines. miR-596 mRNA level was also correlated to cancer stage, Gleason scores, while miR-596 promoter methylation was related to cancer tumor stage, Gleason score and preoperative PSA levels. miR-596 inhibited the cell growth and activity by causing cell apoptosis, and also suppressed the migration of prostatic cancer cells by revealing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. In addition, Western blot indicates that miR-596 overexpression deregulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling, by restraining phosphorylation levels of β-catenin and expression levels of downstream targets.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, this research indicates that miR-596 overexpression could be potentially useful in the cell growth and migration of prostatic cancer and serves as a potential molecular marker in prostatic cancer.

[The diagnostic value of flow cytometry in patients with lymphoma associated hemophagocytic syndrome]

Objective: To evaluate the reliability of flow cytometry (FCM) for diagnosing lymphoma associated hemophagocytic syndrome (LAHS). Method: The clinical data in 57 patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)were retrospective analyzed at Peking University Shenzhen Hospital from July 2010 to July 2019. All patients were performed bone marrow FCM and bone marrow pathological examination before final diagnoses were made. The golden diagnosis criterion was based on clinical, biochemical and histopathological evidence, which was regarded as the standard to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of FCM analysis in diagnosing LAHS. Results: Among 57 cases, 36 cases were eventually diagnosed with LAHS, including 15 B-cell lymphoma(14 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 1 B-cell lymphoma with reactive T-cell hyperplasia), 13 aggressive NK/T cell lymphoma/leukemia, 2 cases of gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma, 4 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, 1 enteropathy-associated peripheral T-cell lymphoma and 1 anaplastic T-cell lymphoma. Lymphoma cells in bone marrow were detected in all patients by FCM except one ENTCL patient. The sensitivity and the specificity of FCM in LASH compared to bone marrow biopsy were 97.2%(P=0.014)and 90.5%(P=0.488) respectively. In the other 21 non-LAHS patients, T cell receptor Vβ (TCRVβ) rearrangement was detected in 2 patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated primary HLH. Conclusions: FCM effectively detects lymphoma cells in bone marrow of lymphoma patients with LHL, suggesting that FCM could be an important indicator for the diagnosis of LAHS. FCM also has the advantage in differentiating LAHS from other HLH.

Ripening-resistance of Pd on TiO2(110) from first-principles kinetics

Suppressing sintering of supported particles is of importance for the study and application of metal-TiO₂ system. Theoretical study of Ostwald ripening of TiO₂(110)-supported Pd particles would be helpful to extend the understanding of the sintering. In this paper, based on density functional theory (DFT), the surface energy of Pd and the total activation energy (the sum of formation energy and diffusion barrier) of TiO₂-supported Pd were calculated. Since the total activation energy is mainly contributed from the formation energy, it is indicated that the ripening of Pd particles would be in the interface control limit. Subsequently, the calculated surface energy and total activation energy were used to simulate Ostwald ripening of TiO₂(110)-supported Pd particles. As a result, in comparison with larger particles, smaller particles would worsen the performance of ripening-resistance according to its lower onset temperature and shorter half-life time. The differences on ripening-resistance among different size particles could be mitigated along with the increase of temperature. Moreover, it is verified that the monodispersity can improve ripening resistance especially for the smaller particles. However, the different performances of the ripening originating from difference of the relative standard deviation are more obvious at higher temperature than lower temperature. This temperature effect for the relative standard deviation is the inverse of that for the initial main particle size. It is indicated that the influence of dispersity of TiO₂(110)-supported Pd particles on ripening may be more sensitive at higher temperature. In this contribution, we extend the first principle kinetics to elaborate the ripening of Pd on TiO₂(110). It is expected that the information from first principle kinetics would be helpful to the study in experiments.

Predictors of plaque erosion in current smokers and non-current smokers presented with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: an optical coherence tomography study

Background

Plaque erosion with subsequent coronary thrombosis is considered as an important cause of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Smoking is a major risk factor for acute coronary thrombosis. However, the relationship between current smoking status and plaque erosion has not been systematically investigated.

Purpose

The present study aimed to investigate predictors of plaque erosion in current smokers and non-current smokers with STEMI by using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods

Between January 2015 to December 2017, a total of 1313 STEMI patients underwent pre-intervention OCT of culprit lesion were enrolled and divided into two groups based on current smoking status: current smoking group (n=713) and non-current smoking group (n=600). Using established criteria, quantitative and qualitative underlying plaque characteristics were assessed by OCT. Clinical, angiographic and OCT characteristics of all enrolled patients were recorded. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of plaque erosion in two groups.

Results

Plaque erosion were found in 30.9% (220/713) culprit lesions in current smoking group and 20.8% (125/600) of those in non-current smoking group detected by OCT. In multivariate regression analysis, the predictors that strongly related to plaque erosion in the current smoking group were nearby bifurcation (OR: 4.84; 95% CI:2.38–9.87; p&lt;0.001); the minimum fiber cap thickness (FCT, OR:1.05; 95% CI:1.03–1.08; p&lt;0.001); thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA, OR: 0.22; 95% CI: 0.07–0.67; p=0.007) and lipid core length (OR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.84–0.97; p=0.007). The predictors in the non-current smoking group were nearby bifurcation (OR: 4.84; 95% CI: 2.38–9.87; p=0.006); the minimal FCT (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.06–1.13; p&lt;0.001); multi-vessel disease (MVD, OR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.19–0.97; p=0.042) and dyslipidemia (OR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.14–0.84; p=0.020).

Conclusions

Predictors of plaque erosion causing STEMI onset are different between current smokers and non-current smoker, with nearby bifurcation and thicker minimal FCT both predicting plaque erosion in two groups of patients.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Coronary plaque characteristics associated with reduced thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow in st-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients with plaque erosion

Background

It has been reported that the lumen factors of the culprit lesions are related to Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade in ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) patients, but the factors of reduced TIMI flow in plaque erosion have not been studied.

Methods

329 STEMI patients with plaque erosion who underwent pre-intervention optical coherence tomography after thrombectomy were included and divided into 2 groups according to preprocedural TIMI flow grade [TIMI 0–1 (n=219) and TIMI 2–3 (n=110)].

Results

The patients with older age (55.7±11.1yrs vs. 51.8±10.6yrs, P=0.003) and diabetes patients (18.3% vs. 8.2%, P=0.015) had poorer TIMI flow, and the patients with reduced TIMI flow grade have lower initial cTnI (1.2ng/mL vs. 2.1ng/mL, P=0.023). The lesion in the LAD had better blood flow than the lesion in RCA (P=0.003), and the patients in TIMI 0–1 grade had more lipid plaques (53.9% vs. 41.8%, P=0.039), more macrophage (59.8% vs. 41.8%, P=0.002), and more calcification (34.2% vs. 21.8%, P=0.020). There was no statistically significant difference in the descriptive indicators of lipid or lumen between the two groups. And In a multivariate logistic regression model, the independent correlation factors of reduced TIMI flow grade in erosion patients were age, diabetes mellitus, lesion vessel, and macrophage.

Conclusions

In STEMI patients with plaque erosion non-lumen factors greatly affect flow, which suggests that systemic treatment is as important as local treatment for plaque erosion.

Flow Chart

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): National Natural Science Foundation of China (81827806, 81801861), National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFC1301100)

Morphological characteristics of plaque erosion with noncritical coronary stenosis: an optical coherence tomography study

Background

Plaque erosion is a frequent and important mechanism of acute coronary thrombosis only secondary to plaque rupture. Recent studies suggested plaque erosion with noncritical stenosis could be treated conservatively that distinct from those with critical stenosis. However, characteristics of plaque erosions with different coronary stenosis remain unknown.

Purpose

The present study aimed to investigate morphological features of plaque erosions with different coronary stenosis using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods

Consecutive ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with OCT images of culprit lesion between August 2014 and December 2017 were enrolled and 348 cases presented with plaque erosion identified by OCT. Based on the severity of lumen area stenosis [calculated by (1-minimal lumen area/reference lumen area) * 100%], all culprit plaque erosions were divided into three groups: Group A (area stenosis&lt;50%, n=50, 14.4%); Group B (50%≤area stenosis&lt;75%, n=146, 42.0%); Group C (area stenosis≥75%, n=152, 43.7%). Clinical characteristics, lesion features detected by coronary angiography and OCT were compared among three groups.

Results

Of all 348 STEMI patients with plaque erosions, patients in Group A were youngest (p=0.008) and had the lowest frequency of hypertension (p=0.029) as compared with those in Group B and C. Angiographic analysis showed 72.0% of plaque erosions in Group A located in LAD, while 67.8% in Group B and 53.9% in Group C (p=0.039). OCT findings (Figure 1-A) showed the prevalence of fibrous plaque was significantly highest in Group A than those in Group B and C (82.0% vs. 54.8% vs. 34.9%, p&lt;0.001), whereas lipid rich plaque was most frequent in Group C (16.0% vs. 43.8% vs. 62.5%, p&lt;0.001). The prevalence of macrophage (p&lt;0.001), microvessel (p=0.009) and cholesterol crystals (p&lt;0.001) increased gradually from plaque erosion with lumen area stenosis &lt;50% to 50–75% to ≥75%. Notably, compared with Group B and C, nearby bifurcation was most common in Group A (72.0% vs. 67.1% vs. 55.3%, p=0.036). Multivariable regression analyses (Figure 1-B) showed fibrous plaque and nearby bifurcation were independently associated with plaque erosion with noncritical stenosis (area stenosis&lt;75%).

Conclusion

56.3% plaque erosion in STEMI patients presented with noncritical stenosis, having distinct morphological features from erosion with critical stenosis. Fibrous plaque and nearby bifurcation were independently associated with the presence of noncritically stenotic plaque erosion, remaining a desire to tailor treatment therapy to individual patients.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): National Key R&D Program of China