Non-toxic near-infrared (NIR) LEDs

Summary: Harnessing cost-efficient printable semiconductor materials as near-infrared (NIR) emitters in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is extremely attractive for sensing and diagnostics, telecommunications, and the biomedical sciences. However, the most efficient NIR LEDs suitable for printable electronics rely on emissive materials containing precious transition metal ions (such as platinum), which have triggered concerns about their poor biocompatibility and sustainability. Here, we review and highlight the latest progress in NIR LEDs based on non-toxic and low-cost functional materials suitable for solution-processing deposition. Different approaches to achieve NIR emission from organic and hybrid materials are discussed, with particular focus on fluorescent and exciplex-forming host-guest systems, thermally-activated delayed fluorescent molecules, aggregation-induced emission fluorophores, as well as lead-free perovskites. Alternative strategies leveraging photonic microcavity effects and surface plasmon resonances to enhance the emission of such materials in the NIR are also presented. Finally, an outlook for critical challenges and opportunities of non-toxic NIR LEDs is provided

Cryo-EM structure of native human thyroglobulin

The thyroglobulin (TG) protein is essential to thyroid hormone synthesis, plays a vital role in the regulation of metabolism, development and growth and serves as intraglandular iodine storage. Its architecture is conserved among vertebrates. Synthesis of triiodothyronine (T; 3; ) and thyroxine (T; 4; ) hormones depends on the conformation, iodination and post-translational modification of TG. Although structural information is available on recombinant and deglycosylated endogenous human thyroglobulin (hTG) from patients with goiters, the structure of native, fully glycosylated hTG remained unknown. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of native and fully glycosylated hTG from healthy thyroid glands to 3.2 Å resolution. The structure provides detailed information on hormonogenic and glycosylation sites. We employ liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to validate these findings as well as other post-translational modifications and proteolytic cleavage sites. Our results offer insights into thyroid hormonogenesis of native hTG and provide a fundamental understanding of clinically relevant mutations

Tuberculosis/HIV/AIDS coinfection in Porto Alegre, RS/Brazil - invisibility and silencing of the most affected groups

OBJECTIVE: To analyze how belonging to certain social groups contributes to constituting the vulnerabilities associated with illnesses due to tuberculosis/HIV/AIDS coinfection. METHODOLOGYThis is a qualitative study carried out in the city of Porto Alegre, state of Rio Grande do Sul, in regions of high social vulnerability. Twenty coinfected people were interviewed in specialized health services between August and December 2016. The analysis was based on the frameworks The Sound of Silence and Vulnerability and Human Rights. RESULTS: Socioeconomic conditions were decisive for the constitution of the vulnerability conditions. Processes of people invisibilization, and the silencing of their voices, in a scenario marked by economic, racial and gender inequalities, contributed for their health needs not to be understood and effectively taken into account in the services actions. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The more effective strategies are to legitimize voices and to understand the needs of those affected by coinfection, the greater the chances that programmatic responses to the problem will be successful

Ferrocene-quinoxaline Y-shaped chromophores as fascinating second-order NLO building blocks for long lasting highly active SHG polymeric films

The first example of a Y-shaped ferrocene quinoxaline derivative with a surprisingly high and stable second harmonic generation (SHG) response in composite polymeric films is reported. The interesting quadratic hyperpolarizability values of different substituted Y-shaped chromophores are also investigated in solution by the EFISH technique

Female high heel shoes: a study of comfort

Protection was the basic principle underlying the creation of footwear, once humankind felt the need to protect feet from direct contact with soil, heat, cold and sharp objects. However, this accessory soon acquired cultural, aesthetic, symbolic significance, and apparently it was not related to comfort. This work aims to analyze comfort in women footwear, especially high heels shoe. We intended to understand the emotional relationship of consumers with this type of accessory, as well as to understand to what extent women are willing to give up comfort in favor of aesthetics. For this purpose, a questionnaire was designed, aimed at the female audience in order to understand the relevance of women's footwear, their daily relationship with shoes, the specificity of heels and the problems caused by it.This work is supported by FEDER funds through the Competitivity Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE and by national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology within the scope of the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Basilar Artery Changes in Fabry Disease

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Silver-Bismuth Based 2D Double Perovskites (4FPEA)(4)AgBiX8 (X = Cl, Br, I): Highly Oriented Thin Films with Large Domain Sizes and Ultrafast Charge-Carrier Localization

Two-dimensional (2D) hybrid double perovskites are a promising emerging class of materials featuring superior intrinsic and extrinsic stability over their 3D parent structures, while enabling additional structural diversity and tunability. Here, we expand the Ag-Bi-based double perovskite system, comparing structures obtained with the halides chloride, bromide, and iodide and the organic spacer cation 4-fluorophenethylammonium (4FPEA) to form the n = 1 Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) phases (4FPEA)(4)AgBiX8 (X = Cl, Br, I). We demonstrate access to the iodide RP-phase through a simple organic spacer, analyze the different properties as a result of halide substitution and incorporate the materials into photodetectors. Highly oriented thin films with very large domain sizes are fabricated and investigated with grazing incidence wide angle X-ray scattering, revealing a strong dependence of morphology on substrate choice and synthesis parameters. First-principles calculations confirm a direct band gap and show type Ib and IIb band alignment between organic and inorganic quantum wells. Optical characterization, temperature-dependent photoluminescence, and optical-pump terahertz-probe spectroscopy give insights into the absorption and emissive behavior of the materials as well as their charge-carrier dynamics. Overall, we further elucidate the possible reasons for the electronic and emissive properties of these intriguing materials, dominated by phonon-coupled and defect-mediated polaronic states

Toxicity and Clinical Results after Proton Therapy for Pediatric Medulloblastoma: A Multi-Centric Retrospective Study

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Even if current treatment dramatically improves the prognosis, survivors often develop long-term treatment-related sequelae. The current radiotherapy standard for medulloblastoma is craniospinal irradiation with a boost to the primary tumor site and to any metastatic sites. Proton therapy (PT) has similar efficacy compared to traditional photon-based radiotherapy but might achieve lower toxicity rates. We report on our multi-centric experience with 43 children with medulloblastoma (median age at diagnosis 8.7 years, IQR 6.6, M/F 23/20; 26 high-risk, 14 standard-risk, 3 ex-infant), who received active scanning PT between 2015 and 2021, with a focus on PT-related acute-subacute toxicity, as well as some preliminary data on late toxicity. Most acute toxicities were mild and manageable with supportive therapy. Hematological toxicity was limited, even among HR patients who underwent hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation before PT. Preliminary data on late sequelae were also encouraging, although a longer follow-up is needed