Liquid-crystalline circularly polarised TADF emitters for high-efficiency, solution-processable organic light-emitting diodes

Achieving a high emission efficiency and a large luminescence asymmetry factor (glum) in a single molecule exhibiting circularly polarised thermally activated delayed fluorescence (CP-TADF) remains a formidable challenge. In this work, a proof-of-concept, liquid-crystalline CP-TADF molecule is proposed to realise high glum by taking advantage of the order inherent in liquid crystals. Employing a chiral dinaphthol-based CP-TADF molecule as the emissive unit, a pair of liquid-crystalline CP-TADF molecules (R/S-4) is synthesised via the introduction of six mesogenic moieties. The enantiomers show intense emission at about 520 nm which has clear TADF and liquid-crystalline characteristics. Both enantiomers display symmetrical electronic circular dichroism (CD) and circular polarisation luminescence (CPL) signals as thin films. Impressively, relatively large glum values of 0.11 are realised for the films. Solution-processed devices were fabricated using R/S-4 as the dopants, with the TADF molecule CzAcSF as the sensitiser. The OLEDs so prepared show a very high maximum external quantum efficiency of 21.2%, revealing a novel strategy for realising large glum values in CP-TADF

Prostate cancer-associated SPOP mutations confer resistance to BET inhibitors through stabilization of BRD4

The bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) family of proteins, comprised of four members including BRD2, BRD3, BRD4 and the testis-specific isoform BRDT, largely function as transcriptional co-activators 1–3 and play critical roles in various cellular processes, including cell cycle, apoptosis, migration and invasion 4,5. As such, BET proteins enhance the oncogenic functions of major cancer drivers by either elevating their expression such as c-Myc in leukemia 6,7 or by promoting transcriptional activities of oncogenic factors such as AR and ERG in the prostate cancer setting 8. Pathologically, BET proteins are frequently overexpressed and clinically linked to various types of human cancers 5,9,10, therefore pursued as attractive therapeutic targets for selective inhibition in patients. To this end, a number of bromodomain inhibitors, including JQ1 and I-BET, have been developed 11,12 and shown promising outcomes in early clinical trials. Despite resistance to BET inhibitor has been documented in pre-clinical models 13–15 the molecular mechanisms underlying acquired resistance are largely unknown. Here, we report that Cullin 3SPOP earmarks BET proteins including BRD2, BRD3 and BRD4 for ubiquitination-mediated degradation. Pathologically, prostate cancer-associated SPOP mutants fail to interact with and promote the destruction of BET proteins, leading to their elevated abundance in SPOP-deficient prostate cancer. As a result, prostate cancer cells and prostate cancer patient-derived organoids harboring SPOP mutations are more resistant to BET inhibitor-induced cell growth arrest and apoptosis. Therefore, our results elucidate the tumor suppressor role of SPOP in prostate cancer by negatively controlling BET protein stability, and also provide a molecular mechanism for BET inhibitor resistance in prostate cancer patients bearing SPOP mutations

Spatial Path Smoothing for Car-like Robots Using Corridor-Based Quadratic Optimization

The global planning module of car-like robots usually plans a coarse spatial path, which may be non-smooth and kinematically infeasible for car-like robots. This study proposes an efficient spatial path smoothing approach, which is capable of optimizing a rough spatial path to be a high quality one. Two novel designs contribute to the proposed approach. One is a direct corridor construction method that provides an optimization region for path optimization. Based on a redefined path representation in the generated corridor, the second one is a core spatial path optimization method, where the optimization problem is formulated as a multi-objective quadratic programming (QP) with corridor and maximum-curvature constraints. Meanwhile, integrating a two-steps strategy into an optimization process yields a good trade-off between efficiency and quality. Experiment results validate that the proposed approach has the ability to online generate a high quality path

The Late Triassic Molasse Deposits in Central Jilin Province, NE China: Constraints on the Paleo-Asian Ocean Closure

This paper presents a new detailed study including zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopic, whole-rock geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic analyses of conglomerate and granitic pebbles from the molasse deposits in central Jilin Province, NE China. These data are used to better constrain the Late Permian–Triassic tectonic evolution regarding particularly the final closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO) along the Changhun-Yanji suture (CYS). Zircon U-Pb data indicate that the granitic pebbles formed in the end-Permian (254–253 Ma). The youngest detrital zircon age of 231 Ma from the conglomerate, and presence of the overlying Upper Triassic Sihetun Formation suggests that the molasse deposits on the Jin′gui Island formed during the Late Triassic. The end-Permian granitic rocks display high SiO2 (66.07–74.77 wt %), with low MgO (0.55–2.05 wt %) and Mg# (31.61–43.64) values, together with depleted Hf and Nd isotopic values (εHf(t) = +1.61 to +11.62; εNd(t) = +3.3 to +4.2; (87Sr/86Sr)i = 0.706458–0.706842) and juvenile second-stage Hf model ages (1148–512 Ma), suggesting that they were probably generated by the partial melting of a Meso-Neoproterozoic juvenile metabasaltic lower crust. They are characterized by enrichments in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and depletions in high field strength elements (HFSEs), with affinities to igneous rocks forming in a subduction-related setting. This, combined with regional coeval subduction-related magmatic rocks, indicates that the PAO still existed along the CYS. In addition, the identification of Late Triassic molasse deposits on the Jin′gui Island in this study, coupled with occurrences of many Early Triassic syn-collisional granitoids along the CYS, indicates that the final closure of the PAO took place prior to the Late Triassic

Preoperative CT findings and prognosis of pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma: comparison with conventional NSCLC of similar tumor size

Abstract Background Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) is a rare subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but differs in terms of treatment strategies compared with conventional-NSCLC (c-NSCLC). However, preoperative CT differentiation between PSC and c-NSCLC remains a challenge. This study aimed to explore the CT findings and prognosis of PSC compared with c-NSCLC of similar tumor size. Methods Clinical data and CT findings of 31 patients with PSC and 87 patients with c-NSCLC were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical data included sex, age, and smoking history. CT findings included tumor size, tumor location, calcification, vacuole/cavity, pleural invasion, mean CT value, and low-attenuation area (LAA) ratio. Kaplan‒Meier curves and log-rank tests were used for survival analysis. A Cox regression model was constructed to evaluate prognostic risk factors associated with overall survival (OS). The Spearman correlation among clinicoradiological outcomes were analyzed. Results The mean tumor size of PSC and c-NSCLC were both 5.1 cm. The median survival times of PSC and c-NSCLC were 8 months and 34 months, respectively (P < 0.001). Calcification and vacuoles/cavities were rarely present in PSC. Pleural invasion occurred in both PSC and c-NSCLC (P = 0.285). The mean CT values of PSC and c-NSCLC on plain scan (PS), arterial phase (AP), and venous phase (VP) were 30.48 ± 1.59 vs. 36.25 ± 0.64 Hu (P = 0.002), 43.26 ± 2.96 vs. 58.71 ± 1.65 Hu (P < 0.001) and 50.26 ± 3.28 vs. 64.24 ± 1.86 Hu (P < 0.001), the AUCs were 0.685, 0.757 and 0.710, respectively. Compared to c-NSCLC, PSC had a larger LAA ratio, and the AUC was 0.802, with an optimal cutoff value of 20.6%, and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.645 and 0.862, respectively. Combined with the mean CT value and LAA ratio, AP + VP + LAA yielded the largest AUC of 0.826. The LAA ratio were not independent risk factors for PSC in this study. LAA ratio was negatively correlated with PS (r = -0.29), AP (r = -0.58), and VP (r = -0.66). LAA showed a weak positive correlation with tumor size(r = 0.27). Conclusions PSC has a poorer prognosis than c-NSCLC of similar tumor size. The mean CT value and LAA ratio contributes to preoperative CT differentiation of PSC and c-NSCLC

Interface passivation engineering for hybrid perovskite solar cells

The allure of high efficiency and low-temperature solution-processed organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are inspiring scientists to seek for its commercialization. Interface passivation engineering has become an effective way to further enhance the efficiency and stability of PSCs by defect passivation, reduces the charge recombination and ion migration initiation and hysteresis control, etc. Herein, we have summarized the effects and recent research progress of interface passivation engineering in PSCs. Interface passivation layers can be realized by using the solution and/or vacuum evaporation processes which are very adaptable to varied materials with different properties and fabrication processes for enhanced photovoltaic performance and stability

Geochemistry and Zircon U-Pb-Hf Isotopes of Metamorphic Rocks from the Kaiyuan and Hulan Tectonic Mélanges, NE China: Implications for the Tectonic Evolution of the Paleo-Asian and Mudanjiang Oceans

The Late Paleozoic&ndash;Early Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the Changchun-Yanji suture (CYS) was mainly associated with the Paleo-Asian and Mudanjiang tectonic regimes. However, the spatial and temporal overprinting and variations of these two regimes remains are still dispute. In order to evaluate this issue, in this contribution, we present new zircon U-Pb ages and a whole-rock geochemical and zircon Hf isotopic dataset on a suite of metamorphic rocks, including gneisses, actinolite schist, leptynites, and biotite schists, from tectonic m&eacute;langes in northern Liaoning and central Jilin provinces, NE China. Based on zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating results, protoliths show wide ranges of aging spectrum, including Paleoproterozoic (2441 Ma), Early Permian (281 Ma), Late Permian (254 Ma), and Late Triassic (230 Ma). The Permian protoliths of leptynites from the Hulan Tectonic M&eacute;lange (HLTM) and gneisses from the Kaiyuan Tectonic M&eacute;lange (KYTM) exhibit arc-related geochemical signatures, implying that the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO) did not close prior to the Late Permian. The Late Triassic protoliths of gneisses from the KYTM, in combination with previously reported coeval igneous rocks along the CYS, comprises a typical bimodal igneous suite in an E&ndash;W-trending belt, suggesting a post-orogenic extensional environment. Consequently, we infer that the final closure of the PAO took place during the Early&ndash;Middle Triassic. The Early Permian protoliths of biotite schists from the HLTM are alkali basaltic rocks and contain multiple older inherited zircons, which, in conjunction with the geochemical features of the rocks, indicate that they were generated in a continental rift related to the initial opening of the Mudanjiang Ocean (MO). Data from this contribution and previous studies lead us to conclude that the MO probably opened during the Middle Triassic, due to the north&ndash;south trending compression caused by the final closure of the PAO