Constructing van der Waals Heterogeneous Photocatalysts Based on Atomically Thin Carbon Nitride Sheets and Graphdiyne for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 into CO

Atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) carbon nitride sheets (CNs) are attracting attention in the field of photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. Because of the rapid recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and limited more active sites, the photocatalytic efficiency of CNs cannot meet the actual requirements. Here, atomically thin 2D/2D van der Waals heterostructures of metal-free graphdiyne (GDY)/CNs are fabricated through a simple electrostatic self-assembly method. Experimental characterizations along with first-principles calculations show that the introduction of GDY in CNs promoted the transport of photogenerated carriers in the melon chain, thus suppressing the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Both in situ FTIR measurements and DFT calculation confirm that the introduced GDY served as the CO₂ adsorption site and enhanced the CO₂ adsorption capacity of the CNs/GDY heterostructure. Thanks to the 2D/2D van der Waals heterojunction, the optimized CNs/GDY enhances significantly the CO generation rate up to 95.8 μmol g^-1 that is 19.2-fold higher than that of CNs. This work provides a viable approach for the design of metal-free van der Waals heterostructure-based photocatalysts with high catalytic activity.

Baseline brain function in the preadolescents of the ABCD Study

The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study® is a 10-year longitudinal study of children recruited at ages 9 and 10. A battery of neuroimaging tasks are administered biennially to track neurodevelopment and identify individual differences in brain function. This study reports activation patterns from functional MRI (fMRI) tasks completed at baseline, which were designed to measure cognitive impulse control with a stop signal task (SST; N = 5,547), reward anticipation and receipt with a monetary incentive delay (MID) task (N = 6,657) and working memory and emotion reactivity with an emotional N-back (EN-back) task (N = 6,009). Further, we report the spatial reproducibility of activation patterns by assessing between-group vertex/voxelwise correlations of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) activation. Analyses reveal robust brain activations that are consistent with the published literature, vary across fMRI tasks/contrasts and slightly correlate with individual behavioral performance on the tasks. These results establish the preadolescent brain function baseline, guide interpretation of cross-sectional analyses and will enable the investigation of longitudinal changes during adolescent development.

[Chronic lymphocytic leukemia with t (14;18) (q32;q21) : report of eight cases and a literature review]

Objective: The study aimed to analyze the clinical features and prognosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with t (14;18) (q32;q21) and conduct a literature review. Methods: The clinical data of 8 patients with CLL carrying t (14;18) (q32;q21) seen in Jiangsu Province Hospital from November 2009 to November 2019 were collected and analyzed. Results: Among the 8 cases, 7 were male and 1 was female. The median age at diagnosis was 70 years old. The immunophenotype score was 5 in 3 patients. 4 patients were scored 4 and the remaining one scored 3. The bone marrow histopathology showed the typical manifestation of CLL. Karyotype analysis showed that all the cases carried t (14;18) (q32;q21) in the stemline. The t (14;18) (q32;q21) showed as the sole abnormality in 3 cases, with +12 in 4, and with 13q- in 1 case. 13q- was found in another 3 patients by FISH. Immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IGHV) mutation status was detected in 6 cases and all of them were mutated. None of them used IGHV3-21. Only 1 case harbored TP53 mutation and no TP53, SF3B1, NOTCH1, or MYD88 mutations were found in the remaining cases who underwent the relevant tests. At a median follow-up of 30.9 months, 1 case died. The remaining 7 cases survived and 3 of them have not reached the treatment indication. 4 patients who received chemotherapy or immunotherapy were stable. Conclusions: The t (14;18) (q32;q21) is rare in CLL and often accompanied by +12 and mutated IGHV. CLL with t (14; 18) (q32; q21) tends to have a good prognosis.

POS1088 EFFICACY OF SUBCUTANEOUS TANEZUMAB FOR THE TREATMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE OR HIP: A POST-HOC SUBGROUP ANALYSIS OF PATIENTS FROM A RANDOMIZED, NSAID-CONTROLLED STUDY WITH A HISTORY OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, OR INSOMNIA

Background:

Tanezumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against nerve growth factor. It is in development for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) in adult patients for whom other treatments are ineffective or not appropriate. Phase 3 clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of subcutaneous tanezumab versus placebo for pain and function outcomes over various timepoints. Largely similar change from baseline was demonstrated in an oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-controlled study.1,2,3,4 The efficacy of some other OA therapies can be dampened in patients with depression, anxiety, or insomnia.5,6,7

Objectives:

A post-hoc analysis to explore the efficacy of subcutaneous tanezumab after 16 weeks treatment, as compared to oral NSAID, in patients with OA and a history of depression, anxiety, or insomnia at baseline.

Methods:

Subgroup analysis of data from a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-controlled phase 3 study of subcutaneous tanezumab (2.5 mg or 5 mg every 8 weeks) vs twice daily oral NSAID in patients (≥18 years) with radiographically-confirmed moderate to severe hip or knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥2; NCT02528188).4 Co-primary efficacy endpoints were change from baseline to week 16 in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index (WOMAC*) Pain and Physical Function subscale scores (both ≥5/10 at randomisation; increasing score indicates increasing pain/disability), and Patient’s Global Assessment of OA (PGA-OA, ≥3/5 at randomisation; increasing score indicates poorer condition). Enrolled patients had a history of inadequate pain relief with acetaminophen; inadequate pain relief with/intolerance to/contraindication to tramadol or opioids; or an unwillingness to take opioids. Patients were on a stable dose of NSAID for ≥30 days before screening. Data are presented as least squares (LS) mean change from baseline to week 16 for the whole population and for subgroups of patients with/without a history of depression, anxiety, or insomnia at baseline. Exploratory statistical analysis was conducted by analysis of covariance. P values were not adjusted for multiplicity. This exploratory post-hoc analysis was not part of the pre-specified hypothesis testing plan or included in any sample size calculations; therefore, comparisons between treatment arms or patient subgroups should be interpreted with caution.

Results:

Overall, 2996 patients were randomized and received at least one dose of study treatment (subcutaneous tanezumab 2.5 mg: n=1002; subcutaneous tanezumab 5 mg: n=998; oral NSAID: n=996). In this population (comprising patients with or without a history of anxiety, depression or insomnia), all treatments were associated with notable and largely similar magnitude improvements in WOMAC Pain, WOMAC Physical Function, and PGA-OA at week 16 (Figure 1). Across treatment groups, differences in LS mean change from baseline in patients with and without a history of depression, anxiety or insomnia ranged between 0 - 0.34 for WOMAC Pain and Physical Function and 0 - 0.19 for PGA-OA.

Conclusion:

Patients with a history of depression, anxiety, or insomnia did not appear to experience dampened improvements in pain or function with tanezumab or NSAID, as compared to those without.

References:

[1]Schnitzer T, et al. JAMA. 2019;322(1):37-48;

[2]Berenbaum F, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020;79(6):800-10;

[3]Schnitzer T, et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2020;50(3):387-93;

[4]Hochberg M, et al. Arthritis Rheumatol. In Press;

[5]Sharma A, et al. Open Access Rheumatol. 2016;31(8):103-13;

[6]Mallen C, et al. PLoS Med. 2017;14(4):e1002273;

[7]Campbell C, et al. Arthritis Care Res. 2015;67(10):1387-96.

Acknowledgements:

Study sponsored by Pfizer and Eli Lilly and Company. Editorial support was provided by Jennifer Bodkin of Engage Scientific Solutions and funded by Pfizer and Eli Lilly and Company.

Disclosure of Interests:

Philip J Mease Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Janssen, Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Galapagos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun, UCB, Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Janssen, Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis, Pfizer, Sun, UCB, Theresa Mallick-Searle Speakers bureau: Allergan, Abbvie, Eli Lilly and Company, Salix, Consultant of: Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Company, Elizabeth Johnston Shareholder of: Eli Lilly and Company, Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, Lars Viktrup Shareholder of: Eli Lilly and Company, Employee of: Eli Lilly and Company, Dominique Menuet Employee of: Pfizer, Ruoyong Yang Employee of: Pfizer, Robert J Fountaine Shareholder of: Pfizer, Employee of: Pfizer.

[Determination of hydrazine in workplace air by gas chromatography with large bore capillary column]

Objective: To determine hydrazine quantitatively in workplace air by gas chromatography with large bore capillary column. Methods: In October 2019, hydrazine in the air was adsorbed by acid silica gel tube sampling and desorped using sulfuric acid solution. After derivatization with furfural and extraction, the content of hydrazine was determined by DM-FFAP capillary column gas chromatography with flame ionization detector. Results: The linear regression equation was y=353.8x+21.2 (r=0.9998) between 0.1-2.0 μg/ml of target concentration. The detection limit was 0.030 μg/ml. The lower limit of quantification was 0.100 μg/ml. If 15 L air sample was collected, the minimum detection concentration was 0.004 mg/m(3) and the minimum quantitative concentration was 0.013 mg/m(3) respectively. The average desorption efficiency was 86.5%-89.4%. The recovery was 94.4%-97.1%. The relative standard deviation was 1.6%-4.9%. Hydrazine and furfural derivative was 2-furaldehyde hydrazine. Conclusion: The method has symmetrical peak shape of hydrazine derivatives chromatographic peaks, short analysis time, easy operation, and is suitable for the determination of the concentration of hydrazine in the air in the workplace.

Fabrication and application of biocompatible nanogenerators

As a new sustainable energy source, ubiquitous mechanical energy has received great attention and was successfully harvested by different types of nanogenerators. Among them, biocompatible nanogenerators are of particular interests due to their potential for biomedical applications. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent achievements in the fabrication and application of biocompatible nanogenerators. The development process and working mechanism of nanogenerators are introduced. Different biocompatible materials for energy harvesting, such as amino acids, peptide, silk protein, and cellulose, are discussed and compared. We then discuss different applications of biocompatible nanogenerators. We conclude with the challenges and potential research directions in this emerging field.

Sarcopenia as a predictor of postoperative risk of complications, mortality and length of stay following gastrointestinal oncological surgery

INTRODUCTION

Sarcopenia has drawn considerable attention as a predictor of postoperative risk, although the relationship between sarcopenia and postoperative risk is contentious. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate this relationship.

METHODS

A systematic literature search up to May 2020 was carried out and 43 studies were identified (with 16,716 patients) reporting on the relationship between sarcopenia and postoperative risk. In order to evaluate this relationship, odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the dichotomous and continuous method with a random or fixed effects model.

RESULTS

Compared with non-sarcopenic patients, those with sarcopenia have a higher major complications rate (OR: 4.03, 95% CI: 2.49-5.57, p<0.001), a higher total complications rate (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.40-2.24, p<0.001), a higher 30-day mortality rate (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.56-3.63, p<0.001) and a longer hospital stay (mean difference: 4.54 days, 95% CI: 2.49-6.59 days, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcopenia significantly increases the risk of major complications, total complications, 30-day mortality and length of hospital stay. For this reason, it is recommended that sarcopenia is added to preoperative risk evaluation to avoid any possible negative outcomes following gastrointestinal oncological surgery.

Characterization of the inhomogeneity of Pt/CeO x /Pt resistive switching devices prepared by magnetron sputtering

There are unrevealed factors that bring about the performance variations of resistive switching devices. In this work, Pt/CeO _x /Pt devices prepared by magnetron sputtering showed rectification in their asymmetrical current-voltage (I-V) curves during voltage sweeps. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the deposited CeO _x film had an inhomogeneous composition, and more oxygen vacancies existed in CeO _x near the top electrode. The asymmetrical resistance change of the Pt/CeO _x /Pt devices can be explained by the presence of more charged oxygen vacancies in CeO _x near the top electrode, along with the Schottky conduction mechanism. This work reveals that the compositional inhomogeneity is inevitable in the magnetron sputtering of oxide targets like CeO₂ and can be an important source of device-to-device and cycle-to-cycle variations of memristors.

[Key gene leading to poor prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer based on bioinformatics analysis]

Objective: To find the possible targets for the study and treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and to analyze and predict the key genes affecting the prognosis of TNBC by bioinformatics. Methods: Raw data on transcriptome sequencing of clinical specimens from patients with TNBC were searched by searching GEO Datasets in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database. The differential gene was then submitted to the Enrichr website for pathway enrichment. Survival analysis was used to finally identify the most significant differences in the prognosis of patients with TNBC. Results: Only ADAM9 gene showed a significant correlation with the poor prognosis of patients with TNBC (P<0.05), and ADAM9 only showed specificity associated with prognosis in patients with TNBC, and was not with other breast cancer types. Conclusion: ADAM9 gene has been proved to be related to the poor prognosis in patients with TNBC. Therefore, ADAM9 gene can be regarded as a possible key gene leading to lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with TNBC.

[Epidemic situation of malaria in Yunnan Province from 2014 to 2019]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of malaria and implementation of the "1-3-7" approach in malaria elimination in Yunnan Province, so as to provide the data support for the development of post-elimination surveillance interventions.

METHODS

All data pertaining to malaria cases in Yunnan Province from 2014 to 2019 were captured from the Notifiable Disease Reporting System of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the changes in the epidemic situation of malaria were analyzed during the 5-year period. In addition, the core indexes regarding the "1-3-7" approach in malaria elimination of Yunnan Province from 2014 to 2019 were retrieved from the Malaria Control System in the Parasitic Disease Information Reporting System, and all changes in the indexes were descriptively analyzed.

RESULTS

During the period from 2014 to 2019, a total of 2 283 malaria cases were reported in Yunnan Province, including 1 927 cases with vivax malaria, 326 cases with plasmodium malaria, 29 cases with other species of malaria, and one case with unidentified species. There were 64 local cases, 2 219 overseas imported cases. Among the 2 283 malaria cases, the male/female ratio was 4.58∶1, and 80.25% of the cases were aged from 15 to 50 years. Farmer (70.00%) was the predominant occupation, and 76.70% (1 751/2 283) of the cases were identified in 25 border counties (districts). Malaria cases were reported in each month during the 5-year period, and the number of malaria cases increased from April, peaked on May to July, and started to decline on August. From 2014 to 2019, the reporting rate of malaria cases within 24 hours upon diagnosis was 100%, and the detection of malaria cases was 99.69% (2 276/ 2 283) in the laboratory, with a 99.65% (2 275/2 283) rate of definite diagnosis. In addition, the percentage of individual epidemiological investigations within 3 days was 100.00% (2 283/2 283), and the number of epidemic foci survey and treatment within 7 days was 576 during the 3-year period from 2017 to 2019. The goal of malaria elimination was achieved in Yunnan Province on June, 2020.

CONCLUSIONS

Malaria has been eliminated in Yunnan Province, and management of overseas imported malaria is the primary challenge to consolidate the malaria elimination achievements in the future. However, the approach in malaria elimination remains to be maintained, and the role of the Yunnan Provincial Malaria Diagnostic Reference Laboratory requires to be strengthened.

[Association of abdominal obesity in childhood with high carotid intima-media thickness]

Objective: To examine the association of abdominal obesity assessed by waist circumference (WC) with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in children. Methods: The study participants were from the "Huantai Childhood Cardiovascular Health Cohort Study" conducted in Huantai County, Zibo City, Shandong Province. A convenient cluster sampling method was used to select a primary school in Huantai County to conduct the baseline survey from November 2017 to January 2018. A total of 1 515 children aged 6-11 years old were included. The first follow-up survey was conducted from November to December 2019, and a total of 981 children aged 8-13 years old were finally included after exclusion of those with high cIMT at baseline. Questionnaire survey, physical examination and ultrasonic examination were used to collect general demographic characteristics, WC and cIMT information. According to the status of WC at baseline, the participants were divided into normal WC group and abdominal obesity group. Covariance analysis was used to compare the cIMT levels of children between normal WC group and abdominal obesity group. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between baseline abdominal obesity and high cIMT during the follow-up. Results: The age of 981 children was (8.5±1.5) years at the baseline. The follow-up age was (10.5±1.5) years, and 520 boys accounted for 53.0%. The cIMT of children in the abdominal obesity group was 0.54 mm, which was higher than that in the normal WC group (0.51 mm) (P<0.001). Similarly, the prevalence of high cIMT in children with abdominal obesity (23.9%) was higher than that of normal WC group (3.9%) (P<0.001). After adjusting for potential covariates at the baseline and during the follow-up period, compared with the normal WC group, abdominal obesity was significantly associated with high cIMT (OR=5.78, 95%CI:3.43-9.74). Conclusion: The abdominal obesity in children could increase the risk of high cIMT.

[Analysis of pregnancy outcomes of D6 single blastocyst transplantation in fresh and frozen-thawed cycles]

Objective: To compare the main clinical outcomes of Day 6 (D6) single blastocyst transplantation in fresh and frozen-thawed cycles. Methods: The data of fresh blastocyst transplantation patients and frozen-thawed blastocyst transplantation patients from January 2013 to December 2017 were retrospectively analysed. Fresh blastocyst transplantation and frozen-thawed blastocyst transplantation were matched in a ratio of 1∶3 by using propensity score matching, the matching factors included age, body mass index, thickness of endometrium and blastocyst grade. Totally 180 cases were included in the fresh cycle group and 540 cases in the frozen-thawed cycle group. Results: There was no significant difference in basal FSH between the two groups [(6.9±2.5) versus (6.4±3.8) U/L, P=0.334]. The positive rate of hCG in D6 blastocyst fresh cycle transplantation group [32.8%(59/180) versus 48.1%(260/540)], clinical pregnancy rate [28.9%(52/180) versus 43.5%(235/540)] and live birth rate [21.1%(38/180) versus 32.2%(174/540)] were lower than those of frozen-thawed cycle group (all P<0.05). The miscarriage rate was higher [26.9%(14/52) versus 24.7%(58/235)], but there was no statistical difference (P>0.05). Conclusions: The clinical pregnancy outcome of D6 single blastocyst frozen-thawed cycle transplantation is better than that of fresh cycle. In order to obtain better clinical outcomes, frozen-thawed cycle transplantation of blastocysts formed on the 6th day is recommended.

Comparing nanoparticle polymeric micellar paclitaxel and solvent-based paclitaxel as first-line treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: an open-label, randomized, multicenter, phase III trial

BACKGROUND

Polymeric micellar paclitaxel (pm-Pac) is a novel Cremophor EL-free, nanoparticle micellar formulation of paclitaxel. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety between pm-Pac plus cisplatin and solvent-based paclitaxel (sb-Pac) plus cisplatin in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 448 stage IIIB to IV NSCLC patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive six 3-week cycles of either pm-Pac (230 mg/m²) plus cisplatin (70 mg/m²; n = 300), followed by dose escalation of pm-Pac to 300 mg/m² from the second 3-week cycle if prespecified toxic effects were not observed after the first cycle, or sb-Pac (175 mg/m²) plus cisplatin (70 mg/m²; n = 148). The primary end point was objective response rate (ORR) assessed by independent review committees (IRCs). The secondary end points included IRC-assessed progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety.

RESULTS

Patients in the pm-Pac-plus-cisplatin group showed significant improvements in IRC-assessed ORR compared with those in the sb-Pac-plus-cisplatin group (50% versus 26%; rate ratio 1.91; P < 0.0001). Additionally, subgroup analysis showed that a higher ORR was consistently observed in both squamous and nonsquamous histological types. IRC-assessed median PFS was significantly higher in the pm-Pac-plus-cisplatin group than in the sb-Pac-plus-cisplatin group (6.4-month versus 5.3-month; hazard ratio 0.63; P = 0.0001). Median OS was not significantly different between the two groups. The incidence of treatment-related serious adverse events (9% versus 18%; P = 0.0090) was significantly lower in the pm-Pac-plus-cisplatin group than in the sb-Pac-plus-cisplatin group.

CONCLUSION

Pm-Pac plus cisplatin yielded superior ORR and PFS along with a favorable safety profile and should become an option for patients with advanced NSCLC.

CLINICAL TRIAL IDENTIFIER

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02667743; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02667743.

MicroRNA-579-3p promotes the progression of osteoporosis by inhibiting osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells through regulating Sirt1

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether microRNA-579-3P was involved in the development of osteoporosis, and to investigate the possible molecular mechanisms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of microRNA-579-3P, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and bone sialoprotein (BSP) in serum samples of osteoporosis patients and normal controls were detected by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), respectively. Meanwhile, the expressions of the above genes during osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were examined as well. To investigate the effect of microRNA-579-3P on osteogenesis, microRNA-579-3P was overexpressed and knocked down in hMSCs. Subsequently, the mRNA and protein expression levels of osteogenesis-related genes, such as ALP, RUNX2 and BSP, were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. In addition, ALP activity and mineralization forming ability were evaluated by ALP staining and alizarin red staining. Bioinformatics predicted that Sirt1 was the target gene of microRNA-579-3P. Subsequent luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to verify the binding relationship of microRNA-579-3P to Sirt1. Meanwhile, qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the changes in the mRNA and protein expression levels of Sirt1, respectively. After overexpression of microRNA-579-3P and Sirt1, qRT-PCR, Western blot, ALP staining and alizarin red staining assays were performed to detect the osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs.

RESULTS

The expression of microRNA-579-3P in serum of patients with osteoporosis was significantly higher than that of normal controls. Meanwhile, the expression of microRNA-579-3P decreased gradually during osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. Overexpression of microRNA-579-3P significantly reduced the expressions of osteogenic related genes, including ALP, RUNX2 and BSP. Besides, ALP activity and mineralized nodule formation ability decreased obviously as well. Luciferase reporter gene assay showed that microRNA-579-3P could bind to Sirt1. After overexpression of microRNA-579-3P, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Sirt1 were significantly reduced, which were reversed after silence of microRNA-579-3P. Simultaneous overexpression of microRNA-579-3P and Sirt1 could reverse the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs caused by overexpression of microRNA-579-3P alone.

CONCLUSIONS

MicroRNA-579-3P could inhibit osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs by regulating Sirt1, thereby promoting the development of osteoporosis.

Large-Grained All-Inorganic Bismuth-Based Perovskites with Narrow Band Gap via Lewis Acid-Base Adduct Approach

Bismuth halide perovskites have recently been considered a potential alternative to lead halide analogues due to their low toxicity and high stability. However, the layered flake structure and wide band gap limit their applications in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). We herein show that large-grained all-inorganic bismuth-based perovskites with a narrow band gap can be obtained from a Lewis acid-base adduct reaction under ambient conditions. Thiourea (CH₄N₂S) is utilized as a Lewis base to interact with BiI₃, confirmed with infrared (IR) spectra. The strong coordination between thiourea and the Bi³⁺ center could slow down the perovskite crystallization and promote the preferred orientation of the perovskite crystals with a hexagonal phase. The morphology of the perovskite films varies dramatically with an increase of molar ratio of BiI₃ and thiourea in the precursor. The perovskites derived from a BiI₃/thiourea ratio of 1:2 display extrathick grains, higher surface coverage, extended light absorption, higher crystallinity, and similar air stability compared to the pristine sample. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the thiourea-induced bismuth perovskite solar cells is significantly enhanced due to the higher surface coverage and the broader absorption of the perovskite film.

Tunable Mechanical and Optoelectronic Properties of Organic Cocrystals by Unexpected Stacking Transformation from H- to J- and X-Aggregation

Molecular stacking modes, generally classified as H-, J-, and X-aggregation, play a key role in determining the optoelectronic properties of organic crystals. However, the control of stacking transformation of a specific molecule is an unmet challenge, and a priori prediction of the performance in different stacking modes is extraordinarily difficult to achieve. In particular, the existence of hybrid stacking modes and their combined effect on physicochemical properties of molecular crystals are not fully understood. Herein, unexpected stacking transformation from H- to J- and X-aggregation is observed in the crystal structure of a small heterocyclic molecule, 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-Bpy), upon coassembly with N-acetyl-l-alanine (AcA), a nonaromatic amino acid derivative. This structural transformation into hybrid stacking mode improves physicochemical properties of the cocrystals, including a large red-shifted emission, enhanced supramolecular chirality, improved thermal stability, and higher mechanical properties. While a single crystal of 4,4'-Bpy shows good optical waveguiding and piezoelectric properties due to the uniform elongated needles and low symmetry of crystal packing, the significantly lower band gap and resistance of the cocrystal indicate improved conductivity. This study not only demonstrates cocrystallization-induced packing transformation between H-, J-, and X-aggregations in the solid state, leading to tunable mechanical and optoelectronic properties, but also will inspire future molecular design of organic functional materials by the coassembly strategy.

Genome-wide Analyses Identify a Novel Risk Locus for Nonsyndromic Cleft Palate

The 3 major subphenotypes observed in patients with nonsyndromic orofacial clefts (NSOFCs) are nonsyndromic cleft lip only (NSCLO), nonsyndromic cleft lip with palate (NSCLP), and nonsyndromic cleft palate only (NSCPO). However, the genetic architecture underlying NSCPO is largely unknown. Here we performed a 2-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS) on NSCPO and replication analyses of selected variants in other NSOFCs from the Chinese Han population. We identified a novel locus (15q24.3) and a known locus (1q32.2) where variants in or near the gene reached genome-wide significance (2.80 × 10^-13 < P < 1.72 × 10^-08) in a test for association with NSCPO in a case-control design. Although a variant from 15q24.3 was found to be significantly associated with both NSCPO and NSCLP, the direction of estimated effects on risk were opposite. Our functional annotation of the risk alleles within 15q24.3 coupled with previously established roles of the candidate genes within identified risk loci in periderm development, embryonic patterning, and/or regulation of cellular processes supports their involvement in palate development and the pathogenesis of cleft palate. Our study advances the understanding of the genetic basis of NSOFCs and provides novel insights into the pathogenesis of NSCPO.

Interdiffusion Stomatal Movement in Efficient Multiple-Cation-Based Perovskite Solar Cells

The composition and crystallization process are essential for high-quality perovskite films. Cesium (Cs) and methylammonium chlorine (MACl) were found to affect the crystallization kinetics of perovskite, and the performance and stability of corresponding devices were greatly improved. We adopted an ion exchange method to remove MACl vapor and add Cs to form a multiple-cation-based perovskite film. With the increase of annealing time, Cl^- from cesium chloride (CsCl) and MA from methylammonium bromide (MABr) formed gradually MACl vapor, and the porosity of surface morphology improved accordingly. The highly crystallized and compact Cs_yMA_x - yFA_1 - xPbI_3 - xBr_x perovskite film with different compositions was eventually obtained. The effects of the amount of MABr on the property of perovskite films and on the performance of the corresponding perovskite solar cells (PerSCs) were systematically studied. The PerSCs derived from 12 mg of MABr exhibit the best photovoltaic performance with a power conversion efficiency of 21.57% under 1 sun illumination.

Erratum: Evolution of π^{0} Suppression in Au+Au Collisions from sqrt[s_{NN}]=39 to 200 GeV [Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 152301 (2012)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.152301.