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The development of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL)-active materials with both large luminescence dissymmetry factor (glum) and high emission efficiency continues to be a major challenge. Here, we present an approach to improve the overall CPL performance by integrating triplet-triplet annihilation-based photon upconversion (TTA-UC) with localized surface plasmon resonance. Dye-loaded chiral micelles possessing TTA-UC ability are designed and attached on the surface of achiral gold nanorods (AuNRs). The longitudinal and transversal resonance peaks of AuNRs overlap with the absorption and emission of dye-loaded chiral micelles, respectively. Typically, 43-fold amplification of glum value accompanied by 3-fold enhancement of upconversion are obtained simultaneously when Au@Ag nanorods are employed in the composites. More importantly, transient absorption spectra reveal a fast accumulation of spin-polarized triplet excitons in the composites. Therefore, the enhancement of chirality-induced spin polarization should be in charge of the amplification of glum value. Our design strategy suggests that combining plasmonic nanomaterials with chiral organic materials could aid in the development of chiroptical nanomaterials. Circularly polarized luminescent materials with large dissymmetry and efficiency are in demand. Here, the authors investigate chirality-induced spin polarization in achiral gold nanorods decorated with chiral dye-loaded micelles to enhance chiroptic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively evaluate the actual stress level of prestressed concrete (PC) beams in service, the stress assessment method of prestressed tendons in PC structures after cracking is proposed based on incompatible deformation of the cracked structure and the stiffness reduction model. The stiffness reduction model of the cracked beam is determined by experiment data and plastic hinge theory. The measured mid-span deflection was used to solve the stress of the PC beam, and the stress calculation formula was derived. The experimental study was carried out on three specimens of prestressed concrete T-shaped model beam with 6 m length and one 30 m box beam in an actual engineering project. This method is used to estimate the actual stress level of model (PC) beams and 30 m box girders before the yielding of longitudinal reinforcement. Experimental results are compared with the measured data; the results show that the stress of the prestressing tendons estimated by this method is in good agreement and has a specific safety margin, which can evaluate the actual state of the prestressing tendons of PC structures in service. It is concluded that incompatible deformation significantly influences the stress level of the prestressing tendons of PC structures after cracking. Thus, it avoids the unsafe consequences caused by the evaluation according to the design specifications. Moreover, it provides a simplified method for assessing the actual state of the PC structure in service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the effect of tea consumption on the improvement of postoperative quality of life in male patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods: The quality of life information of 290 male patients with ESCC was collected. The time to deterioration and the number of events in each area of quality of life was calculated by time-to-deterioration (TTD) model. The association between postoperative tea drinking and postoperative quality of life in male ESCC patients was investigated using the Cox proportional risk model.Results: Postoperative tea-drinking patients experienced delayed TTD in multiple domains, including general health, physical, role, emotional, and cognitive function, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, dyspnea, loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, eating problems, difficulty swallowing, choking while swallowing saliva, dry mouth, taste difficulties, coughing, and speech problems. The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that drinking tea after surgery improved quality of life, including physical function (HR = 0.722, 95% CI: 0.559-0.933), role function (HR = 0.740, 95% CI: 0.557-0.983), eating problems (HR = 0.718, 95% CI: 0.537-0.960), odynophagia (HR = 0.682, 95% CI: 0.492-0.945), trouble swallowing saliva (HR = 0.624, 95% CI: 0.444-0.877), coughing (HR = 0.627, 95% CI: 0.442-0.889) and speech problems (HR = 0.631, 95% CI: 0.441-0.903). Furthermore, the improvement was more significant in patients who drank tea before surgery and continued to drink tea after surgery.Conclusions: Postoperative tea drinking had a positive effect on delay in clinical deterioration and improvements in multiple functions and symptoms associated with ESCC in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]