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The properties of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin layers were studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements to determine their effects on the surface passivation of crystalline silicon (c-Si) in heterojunction solar cells. It was demonstrated that the high bulk quality of a-Si:H layers with denser structures was not sufficient for the passivation of c-Si surfaces in Silicon Heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells, in which the passivation performance is strongly governed by the total hydrogen content ( CH) as a-Si:H layers are ultra-thin. High effective carrier lifetime and implied open-circuit voltage ( Voc,im), as well as low surface recombination velocity, were obtained at the appropriate CH values, and the optimal windows of CH and of the hydrogen content in the Si-H2 configuration ( C2) were determined to be 5.0 ∼ 8.5 and 2.9 ∼ 6.8 at.%, respectively. For CH values higher than 8.5 at.%, the passivation effect was degraded due to the deteriorated bulk properties of the a-Si:H layers. However, Voc,im decreased when CH was lower than 5.0 at.% because the number of H atoms was insufficient to saturate the dangling bonds at the a-Si:H/c-Si interface even though the a-Si:H layers had dense microstructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZLJ33, an oral active multi-kinase inhibitor, was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo against human pancreatic cancer. It could effectively inhibit cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and cause inhibition of invasion in pancreatic cancer cells. At a dose of 15.0 mg/kg, ZLJ33 induced tumor shrink in Mia-PaCa2, Capan2, and AsPC-1 xenografts models by 60.59%, 74.19%, and 71.54% according to the tumor weight, respectively. The effect of ZLJ33 on pancreatic cancer was mainly mediated by inactivation of p-PDGFRβ, p-c-Raf, and p-RET. Treatment with ZLJ33 did not cause side effect of hematology indexes in the pancreatic cancer xenograft model. ZLJ33 could be a potential therapeutic agent against pancreatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New U–Pb age data and Hf isotope systematics on zircons from Middle Devonian and Lower Carboniferous units from NE China provide evidence for the depositional age of these poorly constrained units as well as for the timing of the collision between the Erguna (Ergun in some references) and Xing’an blocks in the eastern end of Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The detrital zircons from the Devonian and Carboniferous sandstones yielded similar age spectra in probability diagrams showing three distinct peaks at ∼450 Ma, ∼500 Ma and ∼540 Ma, respectively, along with Proterozoic and Archean age groups, except for a relatively young age population at ∼360 Ma detected for zircons from the Hongshuiquan Fm. The dating results suggest that the depositional time of the Niqiuhe Fm. should be younger than Late Silurian, as indicated by the youngest 422-Ma detrital zircon from this Fm., and that of the Hongshuiguan Fm. with a youngest detrital age of ca. 338 Ma, is younger than Middle Mississippian (Visean), which is in accordance with those inferred from biostratigraphic data. These dominant age groups are widely found in the Erguna and Xing’an blocks, it is suggested that the sediments of the studied sandstones from Niuqiuhe and Hongshuiquan Fms come mainly from the Erguna and Xing’an blocks. The ε Hf ( t ) value of dated zircons from our sandstones has a wide range (−21 to 16), which shows a mixed signature of that from Paleozoic granitoids in Xing’an block (6–17) and Erguna block (−2 to 6), indicating that Erguna and Xing’an blocks had connected before the Middle Devonian deposition of the Niqiuhe Fm. (422 ± 5 Ma). Combined with the age data, we suggest that the Erguna and Xing’an blocks started to accrete at ∼540 Ma, reached the peak of collision at ∼500 Ma, and went into the post-collision stage from ∼490 to ∼450 Ma. The study provides more evidences and constraints for the early Paleozoic evolutions of the inter-continental block amalgamations and accretions in CAOB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing self-healable, recyclable and reprocessable polymer materials is one of the effective ways to relieve plastic pollution and save resources. Using dynamic reversible hindered urea bonds (HUBs) to construct self-healing materials have become a hot topic to investigate renewable materials. HUBs have a large substituent on its nitrogen atom, which can be dynamically dissociated into related amines and isocyanates without the need for catalysts. Here, integrating HUBs into the epoxy cross-linking network would obtain dynamic covalent self-healing epoxy resin based on large hindered urea bonds (HUBs-EP), which could endow the crosslinked networks with fast reconfigurability under relatively low temperature. In this work, HUBs-EP has optional recyclability (In N , N -dimethylformamide and tetrahydrofuran), good reprocessability (under simple hot-pressing procedure) and rapid self-healing property under 110 °C within 10 min all due to reversible dissociation and recombination of dynamic covalent urea bonds. The extremely simple manufacturing method of dynamically reversible polymers obtained by integrating dynamic covalent bonds into thermoset will give a major hint for the development of sustainable materials. [Display omitted] • A functional thermoset epoxy based on reversible hindered urea bonds (HUBs). • The reversible HUBs endow the crosslinked networks with fast reconfigurability under high temperature. • HUBs endow the epoxy with fully self-healing property under 110 ℃ within 10 minutes. • The epoxy based on HUBs has excellent reprocessability, and the flexible recycling strategy in DMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Motivated by the discovery of a potential ligand that activates both glucokinase (GK) and perioxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), this work presents the rational design and synthesis of a series of novel urea derivatives as potent dual-target ligands of GK and PPARγ. The derivatives obtained, particularly compounds 14j, 14m, 15g, 15j, and 15s, showed relatively high enzyme activity and moderate blood glucose-lowering efficacy in normal ICR mice (GK activation fold >1.7, PPARγ activation percentage >38.8%, relative to rosiglitazone). The discovery of a dual-acting agent may provide an effective approach for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

W-doped In2O3 transparent conductive film was developed at a low substrate temperature of 200°C by reactive plasma deposition technique for the applications to silicon heterojunction solar cell. The maximum Hall mobility of 89cm2/Vs with a corresponding carrier concentration of 1.6×1020 cm−3 was achieved at a relatively high oxygen partial pressure of 7.2×10−4 Torr without any special treatment. According to the Hall effect measurements at variable temperature from 80K to 300K, high Hall mobility was mainly attributed to the ionized impurity scattering, neutral impurity scattering and phonon scattering, grain boundary scattering only plays the minor role in the carrier transportation of IWO film in this work. Additionally, XRD results show the samples have a cubic phase of bixbyite-type In2O3 polycrystalline structure with a preferential orientation of (222) plane. The plasma wavelength of larger than 2.3μm is very beneficial for sunlight transparency. Consequently, IWO is applied to a-Si/c-Si heterojunction solar cells, 20.8% of conversion efficiency has been obtained under the optimized experimental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] MC grain growth simulation and FEM stress analyses are applied for polycrystals. [•] The grains and their boundaries affect the heterogeneous stress distribution. [•] The average stress and the grain size agree well with the Hall–Petch relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Weather is a potentially important determinant of physical activity. Little work has been done examining the relationship between weather and physical activity, and potential modifiers of any relationship in older people. We therefore examined the relationship between weather and physical activity in a cohort of older community-dwelling people. Methods: We analysed prospectively collected cross-sectional activity data from community-dwelling people aged 65 and over in the Physical Activity Cohort Scotland. We correlated seven day triaxial accelerometry data with daily weather data (temperature, day length, sunshine, snow, rain), and a series of potential effect modifiers were tested in mixed models: environmental variables (urban vs rural dwelling, percentage of green space), psychological variables (anxiety, depression, perceived behavioural control), social variables (number of close contacts) and health status measured using the SF-36 questionnaire. Results: 547 participants, mean age 78.5 years, were included in this analysis. Higher minimum daily temperature and longer day length were associated with higher activity levels; these associations remained robust to adjustment for other significant associates of activity: age, perceived behavioural control, number of social contacts and physical function. Of the potential effect modifier variables, only urban vs rural dwelling and the SF-36 measure of social functioning enhanced the association between day length and activity; no variable modified the association between minimum temperature and activity. Conclusions: In older community dwelling people, minimum temperature and day length were associated with objectively measured activity. There was little evidence for moderation of these associations through potentially modifiable health, environmental, social or psychological variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In order to define the provenance change across the nonconformable boundary between the second and the third members of the Upper Cretaceous Nenjiang Formation (Campanian) in the north-central area of the Songliao Basin, two sandstone samples above (sample a-1 from the fourth member of the Nenjiang) and below (sample z-1 from the first member of the Yaojia Formation) the nonconformity were collected from core holes. U–Pb dating was performed on detrital zircons separated from the three sandstone samples. Detrital zircons from sample a-1 have dominant age populations of 100–110Ma, 190–220Ma, and ~1800Ma, and sample z-1 has dominant ages of 130–150Ma and ~350Ma. This paper demonstrates that the provenance of the fourth member of the Nenjiang Formation is significantly different from the first member of the Coniacian Yaojia Formation. The provenance above the nonconformity became much more complex and the eastern source increased significantly, while the western source sharply declined. The main source areas of the fourth member of the Nenjiang Formation are mainly the Zhangguangcai Range, the eastern Lesser Xiang'an Range and the southeast of Songliao Basin. The dominant provenance of the first member of the Yaojia Formation is the northern, the central and the southern Great Xing'an Range. According to the depositional ages and combining the latest seismic stratigraphic profiles in the Songliao Basin, the tectonic inversion of the eastern Songliao Basin began between 73Ma and 87Ma, which differs from the previous age of 73Ma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The fabrication and development of excellent thermoset polymers with self-healing and shape memory properties is highly desirable. Herein, a novel high-strength epoxy resin (EP-SeSe) with diselenide bonds was rationally designed for rapid repair materials in building constructions and electrical packaging. The resultant resins exhibit excellent shape memory performance and self-healing performance due to the dynamic diselenide bonds (Se Se), while maintaining a high mechanical strength (tensile strength = 105 MPa and E = 2.0GPa), and exceptional thermal stability. It is especially noteworthy that the diselenide bonds of the bis(4-aminophenyl) diselenide (BAPDSe) allow EP-SeSe to exchange molecular chains in a dynamic manner, facilitating transport of chain segments while the ortho-phenyl groups prevent the side effects of weak bonds on mechanical properties. Furthermore, when the temperature exceeds Tg, EP-SeSe displays fast stress relaxation, self-healing, remodeling, and weldability due to the [2 + 1] radical-mediated mechanism of the diselenide bonds. We envision that this study provides a facile method for constructing robust multifunctional epoxy resins, which have great potential applications for self-healing and shape-memory epoxy resins. [Display omitted] • Epoxy thermosets (EP-SeSe) based on dynamic diselenide bonds were successfully prepared. • The epoxy thermosets (EP-SeSe) exhibit good mechanical strength, stretchability and excellent self-healing properties. • The dynamic diselenide bonds of bis (4-aminophenyl) diselenide (BAPDSe) made EP-SeSe exhibit excellent stress relaxation. • The epoxy resin have certain shape memory properties under the action of dynamic diselenide bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Blocking the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand (PD-L1) interaction has emerged as one of the most promising treatments for cancer immunotherapy. A novel series of compounds bearing a benzo [d] isoxazole scaffold was developed as PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, among them, compound P20 exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity, with an IC 50 value of 26.8 nM. The preliminary structure–activity relationship was also investigated. The docking analysis of compound P20 with the PD-L1 dimer complex (PDB ID: 5j89) indicated that compound P20 was bound to the PD-L1 dimer with high affinity. These results suggest that compound P20 is a promising lead compound for the development of inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A simple process for nanotexturing on the emitter of silicon solar cells using catalyzed wet chemical etching by size-controlled silver nanoparticles was reported. A fine textured black surface was achieved to realize the low light reflectivity less than 5%. After screen printing and firing by the industrial standard fabrication protocol, we obtained the nanotextured Si solar cells with 15.7%-efficiency without any additional antireflection (AR) coating. This result suggests that the inexpensive metal-assisted wet chemical nanotexture method is prospective to be used in photovoltaic industry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the international literature, many studies find strong relationships between area-based measures of deprivation and mortality. In the UK, mortality rates have generally fallen in recent decades but the life expectancy gap between the most and least deprived areas has widened, with a number of Scottish studies highlighting increased mortality rates in deprived areas especially in Glasgow. However, these studies relate health outcomes at different time points against period-specific measures of deprivation which may not be comparable over time. Using longitudinal deprivation measures where levels of area deprivation are made comparable over time, a recent study demonstrated how levels of mortality change in relation to changing or persistent levels of (non-) deprivation over time. The results showed that areas which were persistently deprived in Scotland experienced a rise in premature mortality rates by 9.5% between 1981 and 2001. Here, focussing on persistently deprived areas we extended the coverage to the whole of the UK to assess whether, between 1991 and 2001, rising premature mortality rates in persistently deprived areas are a Scottish only phenomenon or whether similar patterns are evident elsewhere and for men and women separately. We found that male premature mortality rates rose by over 14% in Scotland over the 10-year period between the early 1990s and 2000s in persistently deprived areas. We found no significant rise in mortality elsewhere in the UK and that the rise among men in Scotland was driven by results for Glasgow where mortality rates rose by over 15% during the decade. Our analyses demonstrate the importance of identifying areas experiencing persistent poverty. These results justify even more of a public health focus on Glasgow and further work is needed to understand the demographic factors, such as health selective migration, immobility and population residualisation, which may contribute to these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the international literature, many studies find strong relationships between area-based measures of deprivation and mortality. In the UK, mortality rates have generally fallen in recent decades but the life expectancy gap between the most and least deprived areas has widened, with a number of Scottish studies highlighting increased mortality rates in deprived areas especially in Glasgow. However, these studies relate health outcomes at different time points against period-specific measures of deprivation which may not be comparable over time. Using longitudinal deprivation measures where levels of area deprivation are made comparable over time, a recent study demonstrated how levels of mortality change in relation to changing or persistent levels of (non-) deprivation over time. The results showed that areas which were persistently deprived in Scotland experienced a rise in premature mortality rates by 9.5% between 1981 and 2001. Here, focussing on persistently deprived areas we extended the coverage to the whole of the UK to assess whether, between 1991 and 2001, rising premature mortality rates in persistently deprived areas are a Scottish only phenomenon or whether similar patterns are evident elsewhere and for men and women separately. We found that male premature mortality rates rose by over 14% in Scotland over the 10-year period between the early 1990s and 2000s in persistently deprived areas. We found no significant rise in mortality elsewhere in the UK and that the rise among men in Scotland was driven by results for Glasgow where mortality rates rose by over 15% during the decade. Our analyses demonstrate the importance of identifying areas experiencing persistent poverty. These results justify even more of a public health focus on Glasgow and further work is needed to understand the demographic factors, such as health selective migration, immobility and population residualisation, which may contribute to these findings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The vibrational and dielectric properties of MgAl2O4 are investigated within the framework of density functional perturbation theory. Results of phonon frequencies at the Brillouin zone center, static dielectric constant, and electronic dielectric constant are reported. In comparison with experimental results, we find that the generalized gradient approximation potential results in more accurate phonon frequencies than local density approximation potential does. Dielectric, refractive index, extinction coefficient and infrared reflectance spectra of MgAl2O4 are given, and the figures suggest that MgAl2O4 presents good transmission properties in the spectrum range above and below . [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Magnetic poly(styrene methyl methacrylate)/Fe3O4 nanospheres with ester groups were prepared by a modified one-step mini-emulsion polymerization in the presence of Fe3O4 ferrofluids. The effects of monomer dose, surfactant content, ferrofluid concentration and initiator content on the particle characteristics such as the size, morphology and magnetic properties were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and vibrating sample magnetometer. The results indicated that magnetic nanospheres were superparamagnetic with high saturation magnetization of 51.0emu/g and corresponding magnetite content of 61.5wt%. Subsequently, magnetic nanospheres with carboxyl and amino groups were also obtained by hydrolysis and ammonolysis reaction. These magnetic nanospheres with multifunctional groups have biomedical applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have previously shown the inhibition of the small-molecule inhibitor FB2 on imatinib-sensitive and resistance CML cell lines with the wild-type Bcr–Abl fusion gene. Here we report the potent and selective antiproliferation on FB2 on transfected Ba/F3 p210 cell lines expressing various isoforms of Bcr–Abl (wild-type, Y253F, T315I). FB2 which orients Bcr–Abl and Src kinase activities, is shown to override imatinib-resistance CML involving Y253F mutation in the Abl kinase domain of the fusion protein except T315I in vivo and in vitro. Thus, we present FB2 that displays potency toward Bcr–Abl and Src as the molecular target, and which could potentially be used to override drug resistance in CML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify criteria that affect uptake of diabetes retinal screening in a community screening program using mobile retinal digital photography units.Research Design and Methods: Data from the regional diabetes population-based retinal screening program and regional ophthalmology laser database were linked to patient postal code (zip code) data. We used distance from retinal screening event, social deprivation scores, and demographic information to identify risk factors for nonattendance at a diabetes retinal screening event. Patients were subdivided into urban (>125,000 population), other urban (3,000-125,000 population), or rural (<3,000 population) depending on where they lived. Data were collected from 2004 to 2006 inclusive and included 15,150 patients and 32,621 eye screening records.Results: The mean +/- SD age of patients was 63 +/- 15 years, and 54% were male. Mean travel time to retinal screening event varied from 7.1 to 17.0 min. For 12% of missed appointments, patients were more likely to be younger, to have longer diabetes duration, to have poor A1C and blood pressure control, to be smokers, and to live in deprived areas. Poor attendance was not associated with sex or distance to retinal screening event.Conclusions: Social deprivation is strongly associated with poor attendance at retinal screening events. Time traveled to screening event was not associated with attendance in this study of a mobile retinal screening service, which visited general practitioner surgeries. This data can help inform population-based diabetes retinal screening programs about improving patient uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginseng quinquefolium (L.), Astragalus membranaceus , and Sophora flavescens Aiton are popular folk medicines in many Asian countries and regions. These three traditional Chinese herbs and their extracts have been reported to considerably enhance the immune function. G. quinquefolium (L.) is considered the king of herbs in China. Traditionally, G. quinquefolium (L.) is believed to replenish vitality, which is considered as immune enhancement in modern Chinese pharmacy. One of the main uses of Astragalus is immunity enhancement; S. flavescens and oxymatrine obtained from its extract have been used to treat leukopenia. Considering the pharmacological properties of Ginseng , Astragalus , and oxymatrine, we evaluated the immunopotentiation effects of their combination, Ginseng–Astragalus –oxymatrine (GAO), in the present study. This study aimed to expand the clinical application of GAO and to preliminarily explore its mechanism of action by determining whether GAO injection can enhance immunity in vivo and in vitro. Overall, 17 major chemical components in GAO were analysed using HPLC and LC-MS. The immunity-enhancing effect of GAO was studied in the cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppressive mouse model and RAW 264.7 cells. Quantitative analysis showed that the potential active components of GAO include at least ginsenosides, astragaloside IV, and oxymatrine. GAO could significantly improve the nonspecific immunity including the indices of the thymus and spleen, number of peripheral blood leukocytes, levels of TNF-α and IL-6, phagocytic function of macrophages, and cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells. Additionally, GAO enhanced the humoural immunity, characterised by the antibody production ability of B cells, and cellular immunity, characterised by the activity of T cells, in immunosuppressed mouse. Moreover, GAO could enhance the phagocytic and adhesion functions of RAW 264.7 cells, which may be related to the activation of reactive oxygen species and NF-κB signalling pathway. GAO could dramatically ameliorate CTX-induced immunosuppression in mouse and stimulate the immune activity in RAW 264.7 cells possibly by activating the NF-κB signalling pathway. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) is the largest accretionary orogen in the world with considerable Phanerozoic juvenile crustal growth. The eastern segment of the CAOB is occupied by NE China and its adjacent areas, which locates in a triangle area surrounded by Siberian Craton to the northwest, North China Craton (NCC) to the south and Pacific oceanic plate to the east. Therefore, the NE China is a key area to study the geological evolution of multiple tectonic systems and overprinting, which has become a hot research topic. In the past five decades, especially the last two decades, there have been many detailed geological investigations carried out and a lot of new data reported in NE China. A progress has been achieved in tectonic evolution, however, there are still many open questions and arguments dealing with the tectonic models, correlation of tectonic units, amalgamation of different blocks and their tectonic affinity. In this study, we did a detailed review of the tectonic evolution of NE China and regional comparison and correlation of the different tectonic units in the eastern segment of CAOB. We re-subdivided NE China into two old blocks of Erguna block (EB) and Jiamusi block (JB) with Precambrian basement and three accretionary terranes of Xing'an accretionary terrane (XAT), Songliao accretionary terrane (SAT) and Zhangguangcai accretionary terrane (ZGCAT), which are separated from each other by the Xinlin-Xiguitu suture (XXS), Hegenshan-Heihe suture (HHS), Longfengshan suture (LFS) and Mudanjiang-Yilan suture (MYS), respectively. The ZGCAT is dominantly composed of early Paleozoic magmatic arc materials and minor late Paleozoic igneous rocks with an old Yichun mini-block, while the SAT consists dominantly of the late Paleozoic magmatic rocks with two small old blocks of the Xilinhot and Longjiang mini-blocks. According to the tectonic correlation and comparation of different tectonic units, we established a new orocline tectonic model for the eastern CAOB: 1) the XAT and ZGCAT accreted to the southern (present position) margin of Ereendavaa-Erguna-Mamyn block (EEMB) and Bureya-Jiamusi-Khanka block (BJKB) with the closure of Xinlin-Xiguitu-Heilongjiang ocean during the early Paleozoic; 2) Subsequently, the SAT accreted to the southern (present position) margin of integrated XAT-ZGCAT terrane with the closure of Hegenshan-Nenjiang-Longfengshan ocean during the late Paleozoic. These initially W-E linear shaped accretionary orogenic belts were ultimately bent southward through Paleozoic time and constituted a huge Paleozoic orocline, NE China Orocline, which collided with NCC by a scissor-like style closure of Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO) from west to east along the Solonker-Xar Moron-Changchun-Yanji suture (SXCYS) during the late Permian-middle Triassic. The NE China Orocline, together with Tuva-Mongol Orocline and Kazakhstan Orocline in the western CAOB, constituted a huge multiple orocline tectonic system in the CAOB during the Paleozoic era. Our study will contribute to the understanding on tectonic evolutions of CAOB and the NE Asian, and suggests that the orocline should be a common tectonic model for accretionary orogeny. • NE China consists of two Precambrian blocks and three Paleozoic accreted terranes. • A new orocline tectonic model is established for first time in NE China. • Blocks in NE China had been integrated in later Early Carboniferous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • 1-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[ 4,3-b ]pyridine derivatives; 1-methyl-1H-indazole derivatives. • D38 inhibited the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction with an IC 50 value of 9.6 nM. • D38 inhibited the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction with the EC 50 value of 1.61 μM. • Analyzing the binding mode of D38 with the PD-L1 dimer by molecular docking. Blockade of the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) signalling pathway is a promising tumour immunotherapeutic approach, and small molecule drugs have more advantages than monoclonal antibody macromolecules in clinical applications. Therefore, a series of 1-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[ 4,3-b ]pyridine derivatives as PD-1/PD-L1 interaction novel small-molecule inhibitors were designed employing a ring fusion strategy. The inhibitory activity of compounds was evaluated by the HTRF assay, among which D38 was identified as the most potent PD-1/PD-L1 interaction inhibitor with an IC 50 value of 9.6 nM. Furthermore, D38 exhibited prominent inhibitory activity against the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction with an EC 50 value of 1.61 μM in a coculture model of PD-L1/TCR activator-expressing CHO cells and PD-1-expressing Jurkat cells. In addition, the preliminary structure-activity relationships (SARs) of compounds were elucidated, and the binding mode of D38 with the PD-L1 dimer was analysed by molecular docking. Overall, D38 could be employed as a prospective lead compound of PD-1/PD-L1 interaction inhibitors for further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provision of climate services for assessing and governing environmental problems such as poor air quality requires interactions between scientists and decision-makers. Air quality information services in China mainly focus on the coming days to weeks. However, users may benefit from air quality information on climate time-scales—from months to decades; hereafter air quality climate services. We focused on key decision-makers and stakeholders that are users of air quality climate services and conducted five workshops with these identified users to ascertain their priorities for air quality climate services, and the reasoning behind these priorities. We also conducted a choice-based conjoint experiment via an online survey distributed amongst regional and local Climate Centres and Environmental Monitoring Centres to assess quantitatively the decision-makers' needs. The results from the workshops and the survey showed that the needs for air quality climate services by users in China mainly relate to seasonal forecasting of winter haze events (PM 2.5 levels and/or the meteorological conditions conducive to the dispersion of the air pollution); there is also some interest in long-term projections of haze under climate change and a growing interest in ozone pollution in summer. Spatial relevance is perceived to be important to regional and city-level stakeholders who prefer information on the city-level, whilst national-wide information is important for national government agencies. A high level of reliability of forecasts was needed for uptake. The findings on the needs for air quality climate services by potential users can support researchers and policy-makers in developing the scientific capacity and providing tailored and effective air quality climate services in China. • To understand decision-maker needs on air quality climate services, qualitative and quantitative methods were conducted, and the results were compared and combined. • Decision-makers and stakeholders expressed a strong interest for seasonal forecasting for winter haze. • They also expressed a moderate interest for seasonal forecasting for summer ozone pollution, and a modest interest for long-term projections of haze under climate change. • A high level of reliability of forecasts was needed for uptake while multiple sources of uncertainties were recognised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There is increasing evidence that the socio-spatial context of the local area in which one lives can have an effect on health, but teasing out contextual influences is not a simple task. We examine whether the incidence of Type 2 diabetes in small areas in Tayside, Scotland is associated with deprivation in neighbouring areas, controlling for the deprivation of the area itself. As such, this is a genuinely ‘contextual’ variable situating each small area in the context of surrounding places. We test two opposing hypotheses. First, a ‘psycho-social’ hypothesis might suggest that negative social comparisons made by individuals in relation to those who surround them could lead to chronic low-level stress via psycho-social pathways, the physiological effects of which could promote diabetes. Thus, we would expect people living in deprived areas surrounded by less deprived areas to have an increased risk of diabetes, compared to those living in similarly deprived areas that are surrounded by equally or more deprived areas. Alternatively, a neo-materialist approach might suggest that the social, cultural and environmental resources in the surrounding environment will influence circumstances in a particular area of interest. Poorer areas surrounded by less deprived areas would benefit from the better resources in the wider locality, while less deprived areas surrounded by poorer areas may be hampered by the poorer resources available nearby. We refer to this as the ‘pull-up/pull-down’ hypothesis. Our results show that, as expected, area deprivation is positively related to diabetes incidence (p<0.001), whilst deprivation inequality between areas and their neighbours is negatively related (p=0.006). Type 2 diabetes is more common in deprived areas, but lower in deprived areas that are surrounded by relatively less deprived areas. On the other hand, less deprived areas that are surrounded by relatively more deprived areas have higher diabetes incidence than would be expected from the deprivation of the area alone. Our model results are consistent with a pull-up/pull-down model and lend no support to a ‘psycho-social’ interpretation at this local scale of analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With the granulometric analyses, mineral composition X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, porosity and permeability measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations and mercury porosimetry measurements of the reservoir sandstones from four wells in the Weixing oilfield (Songliao Basin, NE China), the porosity–permeability and pore-structural heterogeneity features of the Putaohua Member sandstone of the Lower Cretaceous Yaojia Formation have been investigated in this paper. The sandstones are mostly characterized by a similar deposition in continental detrital environments, with quartz and feldspar taking the majority (∼97%) and argillaceous minerals (illite, kaolinite and chlorite) the minority (∼3%). However, their granule size, sorting index, porosity and permeability vary significantly. In contrast to the generality that high porosity–permeability often corresponds to large grain sizes and sorting indexes, the porosity and permeability here show no good correlations to the grain size and sorting index, suggesting the presence of a remarkable textural heterogeneity. In terms of sequential change in permeability along the well-depth, cyclic sedimentation modes have been identified in some sub-layers despite the porosity data showing little response to those scenarios. This may be ascribed to the sandstone''s peculiar intergranular pore structures, in which the cementation occurred in pore-lining and -filling manners to different extents depending on their depositional environments. The distributary channel facies tends to have lowest detrital clay content and rather open packed texture in pore-lining cementation manner, whereas sand sheet facies has pore-filling manner. The Hg-porosimetry analytical data are in fairly good agreement with the heterogeneous pore-structures observed by SEM. Large-sized pores and channels connecting them, though only accounting for a low percentage of the total porosity, are believed to contribute mostly to the effective permeability in the sandstone reservoir. Such textural heterogeneities should be closely associated with the dynamic changing sedimentary facies of sandstones in the continental environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of acryloylamino-salicylanilides were synthesized as inhibitors of EGFR PTK. A strategy of pseudo six-membered ring formed through intramolecular hydrogen bonding in salicylanilides is employed to mimic the planar pyrimidine ring of quinazoline EGFR inhibitors. Acrylamido moiety is incorporated to target the Cys-773 of EGFR specifically. Some of the obtained compounds exhibited good activity as EGFR inhibitors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • The Gongpoquan porphyry Cu deposit is located in the Beishan Orogen, NW China. • Muscovite 40Ar/39Ar dating yielded Early Devonian (404.0 ± 2.2 Ma) mineralization age. • Ore fluid was magmatic-sourced with more meteoric water input toward late stage. • Fluid mixing and boiling were likely effective mechanism for Cu ore precipitation. • The Devonian mineralization was likely related to Paleo-Tianshan Ocean sbuduction. The Gongpoquan is a representative porphyry Cu deposit in the Beishan Orogen, which is located between the Tarim–North China Craton and South Mongolia. The mineralization is associated with dacite porphyry and granodiorite porphyry, and occurs as veins/veinlets, and disseminations. The mineralization can be divided into three stages: (I) quartz–sericite/muscovite–K-feldspar ± chalcopyrite/bornite veins associated with phyllic alteration, (II) quartz–K-feldspar–chalcopyrite/bornite/pyrite veins/veinlets associated with propylitic alteration, and (III) quartz–calcite ± pyrite ± epidote veins. The mineralizing fluids are characterized by intermediate-low temperatures (peak at 210 to 220 °C), intermediate-low salinities (peak at 1.5 to 5.5 wt% NaCl eqv.), and belong to a H 2 O–NaCl–CO 2 ± CH 4 ± N 2 system. Oxygen and hydrogen isotope data indicate that stage I and II fluids were dominantly magmatic-sourced, with increasing meteoric water input toward stage III. Stage I and IIa-b chalcopyrite, bornite, and sphalerite have in situ δ34S values of −9.0 to −2.4‰, indicating a magmatic sulfur origin. The chalcopyrite has largely similar contents of Ti, Ge, As, Sn, Sb, and Se across stage I to III, and the contents are higher than those of bornite and sphalerite. This indicates that sulfide formation are controlled by intermediate-low temperatures with no mineral textural modification or chemical remobilization throughout the mineralization. Muscovite 40Ar/39Ar dating of stage I vein in the granodiorite porphyry ore host yielded an Early Devonian age of 404.0 ± 2.2 Ma (MSWD = 0.40), indicative of the close temporal with the Gongpoquan arc granitoids formed during the Paleo-Tianshan Ocean subduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockade of the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway is an attractive strategy for immunotherapy. A novel series of compounds bearing a benzo [d] isothiazole scaffold were developed, among which CH20 exhibited promising activity, with an IC 50 value of 8.5 nM. Further cell-based PD-1/PD-L1 blockade bioassays indicated that CH20 can inhibit the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction at the cellular level, with an EC 50 value of 5.6 μM CH20 could have better potency in restoring the activity of effector cells, as the maximal luminescence values (RLU max) of CH20 were equivalent to those of PD-L1 mAbs. The docking analysis of CH20 with the PD-L1 dimer complex (PDB ID: 6R3K) confirmed that CH20 is a promising lead compound for the development of inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. The preliminary structure-activity relationship was investigated in this paper, with the aim of future drug development. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fe 2 O 3 catalyst are employed to investigate the engine characteristic in this work. • Effects of Fe 2 O 3 on the characteristic of diesel engine fueled with biodiesels and diesel are studied. • The ANCF catalytic showed better emission characteristic. • Exhaust temperature played very important roles for NO x conversion efficiency. The Fe 2 O 3 catalyst exhibits excellent activity in the reduction of nitrogen oxides. However, the improvement of its high-temperature stability is a well-known challenge in application of diesel engine fueled with biodiesels. The paper offers an investigation on the effects of Fe 2 O 3 based diesel oxidation catalyst and selective catalytic reduction catalyst on the engine characteristic of diesel engine fueled with biodiesels and diesel in the experimental study. The catalyst of Al 2 O 3 -Nb 2 O 5 /CeO 2 /Fe 2 O 3 was produced with the impregnation method. The characteristics of selective catalytic reduction catalyst and diesel oxidation catalyst were investigated in term of CO, smoke, NO x , CO 2 and O 2 emissions. In addition, the engine combustion characteristic was studied in term of brake specific fuel consumption, exhaust temperature and excessive air factor. The experiments were carried out with a four cylinders electronic control diesel engine under a constant engine speed of 1000 rpm and various engine loads. The results show that the average increases of BSFC are 10.60%, 5.35% and 5.22% for diesel, RME and CSME catalyst, respectively. In addition, applying of biodiesel fuel drops in CO by 35%, HC by 64%, and smoke by 45% in average, whereas NO x growths by 11% at medium and high loads. The NO conversions of diesel engine fueled with diesel, rapeseed methyl ester and cottonseed methyl ester are up to 72.3%, 81.3% and 78.6%, respectively. Similarly, NO x conversions are up to 76.1%, 82.3% and 83.5%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint pathway with small molecules is an emerging immunotherapeutic approach. A novel series of 4-phenylindoline derivatives were synthesized, and their inhibitory activity against the PD-1/PD-L1 protein-protein interaction (PPI) was evaluated through a homogenous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay. Among them, A20 and A22 exhibited potent activity with IC 50 values of 17 nM and 12 nM, respectively. Furthermore, A20 showed the promising inhibitory activity against the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction with the EC 50 value of 0.43 μM in a co-culture model of PD-L1/TCR Activator-expressing CHO cells and PD-1-expressing Jurkat cells. Besides, the structure−activity relationships (SAR) of the novel synthesized 4-phenylindoline derivatives was concluded, and the binding mode of A22 with the PD-L1 dimer was analyzed by molecular simulation and docking, demonstrating that the N-atom in the side chain of indoline fragment could interact with the amino acid residue of the PD-L1 protein to lead to the potent inhibitory activity. This study provided a new insight for further drug design. Image 1 • Several indoline derivatives targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway were developed. • A22 inhibited the interaction of PD-1/PD-L1 potently (IC 50 = 12 nM). • A20 and A22 exhibited low toxicity in a co-culture model. • A20 inhibited the binding of PD-1/PD-L1 in a co-culture model (EC 50 = 0.43 μM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2017, the efficiency record for cast multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si) solar cells has been 22.3% using a TOPCon design on a 2 × 2 cm2 area of an n -type wafer processed in the laboratory. As the efficiency of industrial PERC and TOPCon cells on monocrystalline wafers has been higher than that, there is widespread expectation that multi-crystalline materials will be used less and less. Recently, we applied our industrial TOPCon (i-TOPCon) technology to 157.4 mm × 157.4 mm quasi-mono n -type wafers and achieved an efficiency of 23.22% with V oc of 711.9 mV with illumination for the front side, independently confirmed by ISFH CalTeC in Germany. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first solar cell based on cast-mono material that exceed 23% efficiency. This gives scope that cast materials may still be used in future cell fabrication because such high efficiencies and lower cost may offset the lower production yield compared to Czochralski (Cz) wafers. We report on details about our cell structure and processing, we analyze the bulk lifetime before and after cell fabrication, and give details about the optimization of the rear passivating contact. • We demonstrate TOPCon cells with a best efficiency of 23.22% on large-area quasi-mono wafers. • We analyses the bulk lifetime before and after cell fabrication. • We give details about the optimization of the rear passivating contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser-doped boron selective emitters are an ideal candidate for enabling less emitter recombination, lower contact resistance and better blue response of efficient n-type silicon solar cells. However, the low boron concentration of the borosilicate glasses formed during boron diffusion processes and the implementation of ultraviolet lasers have hindered the commercialization of laser-doped boron selective emitters. In this contribution, separate BBr 3 diffusion processes for green-laser-doped selective emitters are demonstrated. Laser doping processes were conducted between (1) borosilicate glass deposition and boron driving in and (2) post-oxidation, achieving the optimized laser doped selective emitter with the R sheet,p+ / R sheet,p++ of 95.0 Ω/□/54.3 Ω/□, accompanying with the p + profile of N max < 1.4× 1019 cm−3. By comparison to the homogeneous emitter with sheet resistance of 88.9 Ω/□, J 0e, total of 45.3 fA/cm2 and ρ c, metal of 2.9 mΩ/cm2, the employment of the optimum laser doped selective emitter has resulted in the J 0e, total of 31.1 fA/cm2 and the ρ c, metal of 1.0 mΩ/cm2. Finally, the improvement of simulated V OC (699.6 mV), FF (81.38%) and efficiency (23.13%) were obtained by using the optimized laser doped SEs, compared with the simulated V OC (694.5 mV), FF (81.14%) and efficiency (22.89%) of the reference. Separate BBr 3 diffusion processes for green-laser-doped selective emitters demonstrate the employment of industrial green laser and boron diffusion furnace, instead of expensive ultraviolet laser and other complex boron resources, indicating a promising potential for industrial feasibility. Image 1 • Separate BBr 3 diffusion processes for green-laser-doped selective emitters were developed, based on the higher boron-dose BSG grown during BSG deposition and B driving in. • Green laser and boron diffusion furnace in the fabrication of industrial PERC and n-Si solar cell, respectively, were used, instead of expensive ultraviolet laser and other complex boron resources. • The optimized laser doped selective emitter with the R sheet,p+ / R sheet,p++ of 95.0 Ω/□/54.3 Ω/□, presented the p + profile of N max < 1.4 × 1019 cm−3. • The employment of the optimum laser doped selective emitter has resulted in the J 0e, total of 31.1 fA/cm2 and the ρ c, metal of 1.0 mΩ/cm2. • The simulated V OC (699.6 mV), FF (81.38%) and efficiency (23.13%) were obtained by using the optimized laser doped SE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capsule: Neighbourhood greenness may benefit mental health by decreasing air pollution. • NDVI and streetscape greenery (SVG) were used to assess greenness exposure, and trees (SVG-tree) and grasses (SVG-grass) were distinguished. • Both objective (PM 2.5 and NO 2) and subjective (perceived air pollution) measures were used to quantify air pollution exposure. • NDVI, SVG-tree and SVG-grass were positively associated with psychological well-being. • The SVG-mental health association was mediated by ambient PM 2.5 , NO 2 and perceived air pollution in parallel mediation models. • The SVG-mental health association was mediated by ambient PM 2.5 -perceived air pollution and NO 2 -perceived air pollution in serial mediation models. • Neither measures of air pollution mediated the association between NDVI and psychological well-being. China's rapid urbanization has led to an increasing level of exposure to air pollution and a decreasing level of exposure to vegetation among urban populations. Both trends may pose threats to psychological well-being. Previous studies on the interrelationships among greenness, air pollution and psychological well-being rely on exposure measures from remote sensing data, which may fail to accurately capture how people perceive vegetation on the ground. To address this research gap, this study aimed to explore relationships among neighbourhood greenness, air pollution exposure and psychological well-being, using survey data on 1029 adults residing in 35 neighbourhoods in Guangzhou, China. We used the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and streetscape greenery (SVG) to assess greenery exposure at the neighbourhood level, and we distinguished between trees (SVG-tree) and grasses (SVG-grass) when generating streetscape greenery exposure metrics. We used two objective (PM 2.5 and NO 2 concentrations) measures and one subjective (perceived air pollution) measure to quantify air pollution exposure. We quantified psychological well-being using the World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Results from multilevel structural equation models (SEM) showed that, for parallel mediation models, while the association between SVG-grass and psychological well-being was completely mediated by perceived air pollution and NO 2 , the relationship between SVG-tree and psychological well-being was completely mediated by ambient PM 2.5 , NO 2 and perceived air pollution. None of three air pollution indicators mediated the association between psychological well-being and NDVI. For serial mediation models, measures of air pollution did not mediate the relationship between NDVI and psychological well-being. While the linkage between SVG-grass and psychological well-being scores was partially mediated by NO 2 -perceived air pollution, SVG-tree was partially mediated by both ambient PM 2.5 -perceived air pollution and NO 2 -perceived air pollution. Our results suggest that street trees may be more related to lower air pollution levels and better mental health than grasses are. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a heme-containing intracellular enzyme that catalyzes the first and rate-determining step of tryptophan metabolism and is an important immunotherapeutic target for the treatment of cancer. In this study, we designed and synthesized a new series of compounds as potential IDO1 inhibitors. These compounds were then evaluated for inhibitory activity against IDO1 and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO). Among them, the three phenyl urea derivatives i12, i23, i24 as showed potent IDO1 inhibition, with IC50 values of 0.1–0.6 μM and no compound exhibited TDO inhibitory activity. Using molecular docking, we predicted the binding mode of compound i12 within IDO1. Compound i12 was further investigated by determining its in vivo pharmacokinetic profile and anti-tumor efficacy. The pharmacokinetic study revealed that compound i12 had satisfactory properties in mice, with moderate plasma clearance (22.45 mL/min/kg), acceptable half-life (11.2 h) and high oral bioavailability (87.4%). Compound i12 orally administered at 15 mg/kg daily showed tumor growth inhibition (TGI) of 40.5% in a B16F10 subcutaneous xenograft model and 30 mg/kg daily showed TGI of 34.3% in a PAN02 subcutaneous xenograft model. In addition, the body weight of i12-treated mice showed no obvious reduction compared with the control group. Overall, compound i12 is a potent lead compound for developing IDO1 inhibitors and anti-tumor agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate an "industrial tunnel oxide passivated contacts" (i-TOPCon) silicon solar cell on large area n-type silicon wafers (156.75 mm × 156.75 mm). This cell has a boron diffused front emitter, a tunnel-SiO x /n+-poly-Si/SiN x :H structure at the rear side, and screen-printed electrodes on both sides. The passivation of the tunnel-SiO x /n+-poly-Si/SiN x :H structure on silicon wafers is investigated. The saturation currents J o of this structure on polished and textured silicon surfaces are 1.3 and 3.7 fA/cm2, respectively. After printing the Ag contacts, the J o of this structure increases to 50.7 fA/cm2 on textured silicon surfaces, which is still manageably low for metal contacts. This structure was applied to i-TOPCon solar cells, resulting in a median efficiency of 23.91%, measured in-house, and a champion efficiency of 24.58%, independently confirmed by the ISFH CalTeC in Germany. The champion efficiency was measured with total area illumination, including screen-printed fingers and busbars. Image 1 • We demonstrate i-TOPCon cells with a best efficiency of 24.58% on 156.75 mm × 156.75 mm. • The tunnel-SiO x /n+-poly-Si films on wafers show an excellent contact passivation. • Major power losses are in the emitter, including its bulk, surface, metal contacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]