Improving Interfacial Charge Recombination in Planar Heterojunction Perovskite Photovoltaics with Small Molecule as Electron Transport Layer

Although perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a promising alternative to widely used fossil fuels, the involved high‐temperature preparation of metal oxides as a charge transport layer in most state‐of‐the‐art PSCs has been becoming a big stumbling block for future low‐temperature and large‐scale R2R manufacturing process. Such an issue strongly encourages scientists to find new type of materials to replace metal oxides. Except for expensive PC₆₁BM with unmanageable morphology and electrical properties, the past investigation on the development of low‐temperature‐processed and highly efficient electron transport layers (ETLs) has met some mixed success. In order to further enhance the performance of all‐solution‐processed PSCs, we propose a novel n‐type sulfur‐containing small molecule hexaazatrinaphtho[2,3‐c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (HATNT) with high electron mobility up to 1.73 × 10^?2 cm² V^?1 s^?1 as an ETL in planar heterojunction PSCs. A high power conversion efficiency of 18.1% is achieved, which is fully comparable with the efficiency from the control device fabricated with PC₆₁BM as ETL. This superior performance mainly attributes from more effective suppression of charge recombination at the perovskite/HATNT interface than that between the perovskite and PC₆₁ BM. Moreover, high electron mobility and strong interfacial interaction via S? I or S? Pb bonding should be also positive factors. Significantly, our results undoubtedly enable new guidelines in exploring n‐type organic small molecules for high‐performance PSCs.     

Evolution of prokaryotic and eukaryotic virulence effectors

Coevolutionary interactions between plants and their bacterial and eukaryotic pathogens are mediated by virulence effectors. These effectors face the daunting challenge of carrying out virulence functions, while also potentially exposing the pathogen to host defense systems. Very strong selective pressures are imposed by these competing roles, and the subsequent genetic changes leave their footprints in the extant allelic variation. This review examines the evolutionary processes that drive pathogen-host interactions as revealed by the genetic signatures left in virulence effectors, and speculate on the different pressures imposed on bacterial versus eukaryotic pathogens. We find numerous instances of positive selection for new allelic forms, and diversifying selection for genetic variability, which results in altered host-pathogen interactions. We also describe how the genetic structure of both bacterial and eukaryotic virulence effectors may contribute to their rapid generation and turnover.     

Thioredoxin 2 haploinsufficiency in mice results in impaired mitochondrial function and increased oxidative stress

The mitochondrial form of thioredoxin, thioredoxin 2 (Txn2), plays an important role in redox control and protection against ROS-induced mitochondrial damage. To evaluate the effect of reduced levels of Txn2 in vivo, we measured oxidative damage and mitochondrial function using mice heterozygous for the Txn2 gene (Txn2(+/-)). The Txn2(+/-) mice showed approximately 50% decrease in Trx-2 protein expression in all tissues without upregulating the other major components of the antioxidant defense system. Reduced levels of Txn2 resulted in decreased mitochondrial function as shown by reduced ATP production by isolated mitochondria and reduced activity of electron transport chain complexes (ETCs). Mitochondria isolated from Txn2(+/-) mice also showed increased ROS production compared to wild type mice. The Txn2(+/-) mice showed increased oxidative damage to nuclear DNA, lipids, and proteins in liver. In addition, we observed an increase in apoptosis in liver from Txn2(+/-) mice compared with wild type mice after diquat treatment. Our results suggest that Txn2 plays an important role in protecting the mitochondria against oxidative stress and in sensitizing the cells to ROS-induced apoptosis.     

Culture conditions optimization of hyaluronic acid production by Streptococcus zooepidemicus based on radial basis function neural network and quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization algorithm

This study aimed to optimize the culture conditions (agitation speed, aeration rate and stirrer number) of hyaluronic acid production by Streptococcus zooepidemicus. Two optimization algorithms were used for comparison: response surface methodology (RSM) and radial basis function neural network coupling quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization algorithm (RBF-QPSO). In RBF-QPSO approach, RBF is employed to model the microbial HA production and QPSO algorithm is used to find the optimal culture conditions with the established RBF estimator as the objective function. The predicted maximum HA yield by RSM and RBF-QPSO was 5.27 and 5.62 g/l, respectively, while a maximum HA yield of 5.21 and 5.58 g/l was achieved in the validation experiments under the optimal culture conditions obtained by RSM and RBF-QPSO, respectively. It was indicated that both models provided similar quality predictions for the above three independent variables in terms of HA yield, but RBF model gives a slightly better fit to the measured data compared to RSM model. This work shows that the combination of RBF neural network with QPSO algorithm has good predictability and accuracy for bioprocess optimization and may be helpful to the other industrial bioprocesses optimization to improve productivity.     

Preparation, characterization and properties of superabsorbent nanocomposites based on natural guar gum and modified rectorite

Novel guar gum-g-poly(sodium acrylate)/rectorite (GG-g-PNaA/REC) superabsorbent nanocomposites were prepared in aqueous solution using guar gum (GG), partially neutralized acrylic acid (NaA), acidified rectorite (H⁺-REC) and organified rectorite (CTA⁺-REC) by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as raw materials, ammonium persulfate (APS) as initiator and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as crosslinker. FTIR spectra confirmed that NaA had been grafted onto GG chains and the OH groups of REC participated in polymerization reaction. Exfoliated nanocomposite was obtained for H⁺-REC and intercalated structure was formed for CTA⁺-REC as shown by XRD results. SEM observations show REC has been uniformly dispersed in polymeric matrix. Effects of HCl concentration, organification degree of CTA⁺-REC and content of REC on swelling capabilities were investigated and the swelling kinetics of nanocomposites was evaluated. Results indicate that modifying REC by acidification and organification can improve swelling properties of the resultant nanocomposites, and GG-g-PNaA/CTA⁺-REC exhibited higher swelling capability and swelling rate contrast to GG-g-PNaA/H⁺-REC.     

Characterization of slow conformational dynamics in solids: dipolar CODEX

A solid state NMR experiment is introduced for probing relatively slow conformational exchange, based on dephasing and refocusing dipolar couplings. The method is closely related to the previously described Centerband-Only Detection of Exchange or CODEX experiment. The use of dipolar couplings for this application is advantageous because their values are known a priori from molecular structures, and their orientations and reorientations relate in a simple way to molecular geometry and motion. Furthermore the use of dipolar couplings in conjunction with selective isotopic enrichment schemes is consistent with selection for unique sites in complex biopolymers. We used this experiment to probe the correlation time for the motion of ¹³C, ¹⁵N enriched urea molecules within their crystalline lattice.     

一种用质粒DNA转化大肠杆菌感受态细胞的实用操作技巧

目的是建立一种简化、实用的用质粒DNA转化大肠杆菌的操作方法.采用氯化钙法制备大肠杆菌感受态细胞.以质粒pUC18,pCSN44,pAN52-1Not,pETts,pANth和植物双元表达栽体pCAMBIA1301分别转化用于质粒扩增与保存的常用大肠杆菌菌株Top10和DH5α以及用于原核表达的常用大肠杆菌菌株BL21(DE3)和TB1.质粒与感受态细胞的混合液置冰上作用一定时间后,直接涂布含有筛选抗生素的LB平板,于37℃培养12～16h.结果表明,用不同大小的质粒DNA转化不同的大肠杆菌菌株,都可以获得满足实验要求,转化效率可高达103～4阳性克隆/μg.该方法较标准的转化流程更加简便、省时、实用.     

新城疫病毒FMW株体外溶瘤作用及其机制分析

[目的]筛选出能高效抑制多种人肿瘤细胞生长增殖的新城疫(New Castle disease virus,NDV)毒株,为进一步构建重组高效靶向溶瘤毒株奠定基础.[方法]以体外噻唑蓝法测定NDV对A549、SMMC7721等肿瘤细胞及人胚干细胞L-02、人胚肾细胞HEK293等的生长抑制率,空斑试验确定病毒滴度及感染复数.利用形态学观察、Hoechst荧光染色、流式细胞术及免疫印迹等分析了NDV-FMW诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡的细胞生物学变化及其机制.[结果]从近50株NDV中筛选出NDV-FMW,以20 MOI病毒作用A549、SMMC7721等肿瘤细胞48 h,细胞生长抑制率达60%,NDV-FMW诱导肿瘤细胞发生凋亡,效应呈时间和剂量的依赖性,凋亡细胞出现核染色质断裂、浓缩及二倍体亚峰,细胞周期阻滞于GO/G1期,此外,病毒感染A549细胞16 h后开始检测到活化的Caspase-3裂解片段及PARP裂解大片段.[结论]NDV-FMW株体外能高效抑制肿瘤细胞的增殖,并经Caspase-3途径诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡.FMW株具有自主知识产权,其良好的体外溶瘤能力为进一步探讨体内抗肿瘤及临床试验的进行奠定了基础,并有可能为恶性肿瘤的治疗提供新的生物制剂.