Patterned Wettability Surface for Competition‐Driving Large‐Grained Perovskite Solar Cells

Novel photovoltaic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with high‐efficient photovoltaic property are largely in thrall to the uncertain perovskite grain size and inevitable defects. Here, inspired by the competitive growth between tree and grass in the forest system, a competitive perovskite grain growth approach via micro‐contact print (MicroCP) method (CD disk as templates) for printing wettability‐patterned substrate is proposed, aiming to achieve large‐grained perovskite and avoid discontinuous perovskite films caused by the low wettability of substrates. A MicroCP process is employed to construct a patterned wettability surface for the perovskite competitive growth mechanism on the electrode surface. This approach modifies the substrates quickly, ensures the uniform coverage of perovskite due to the function of ‐NH₂ and Pb²⁺ bonds, and converts the perovskite films composed of small grains and pinholes into high‐quality perovskite films, free from pinholes and made up of large grains, resulting in efficiencies over 20% for the MicroCP PSCs.     

一种强力霉素诱导型白念珠菌基因敲除与筛选标记再循环工具包

【目的】在白念珠菌中建立一个快捷方便经济的基因敲除与筛选标记再循环的DNA操作系统。【方法】通过ExoIII介导的不依赖于连接酶的克隆策略,在异源筛选标记基因CmLEU2、CdHIS1和CdARG4基因的两侧分别插入了loxP位点,成为筛选标记基因盒扩增的模板。全基因合成了经过白念珠菌密码子优化的rTetR元件,并组装成Tet-on启动子。将密码子优化的重组酶Cre基因置于该启动子控制下。然后将他们插入筛选标记基因CdHIS1和CdARG4的CDS区域,形成筛选标记基因再循环载体。【结果】构建了3个用于白念珠菌基因敲除的侧翼含有loxP位点的筛选标记基因载体,以及2个含有Tet-on启动子控制的Cre酶的载体用于筛选标记基因的再循环。【结论】成功构建了一个白念珠菌中可诱导的基因敲除和筛选标记再循环的载体系统并成功应用于多个基因缺失株构建。这个系统有助于快速构建白念珠菌的单基因和多基因敲除菌株。     

Three New Polyacetylene Glycosides from the Roots of Heracleum dissectum and Their Triglyceride Accumulating Activities in 3T3‐L1 Cells

Continually phytochemical study of the roots of Heracleum dissectum had led to the isolation of three previously undescribed polyacetylene glycosides ( 1 – 3 ), together with seven known compounds, including one polyacetylene ( 8 ) and six coumarins ( 4 – 7 and 9 – 10 ) using diverse chromatographic methods. The structures of these three new compounds were characterized and identified as deca‐4,6‐diyn‐1‐yl β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), (8Z)‐dec‐8‐ene‐4,6‐diyn‐1‐yl β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), and (8E)‐dec‐8‐ene‐4,6‐diyn‐1‐yl β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ) based on their physicochemical properties and extensive analyses of various spectroscopic data. Their triglycerides accumulating activities were assayed and the results showed that the three new polyacetylene glycosides ( 1 – 3 ) exhibited triglyceride accumulating activities in 3T3‐L1 adipocytes.     

A proteomics approach to identifying novel protein targets involved in erinacine A–mediated inhibition of colorectal cancer cells’ aggressiveness

Erinacine A, a major active component of a diterpenoid derivative isolated from Hericium erinaceus mycelium, has been demonstrated to exert anticancer effects. Herein, we present an investigation of the molecular mechanism of erinacine A induction associated with cancer cells’ aggressive status and death. A proteomic approach was used to purify and identify the differentially expressed proteins following erinacine A treatment and the mechanism of its action in apoptotic and the targets of erinacine A. Our results demonstrate that erinacine A treatment of HCT‐116 and DLD‐1 cells increased cell cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production as well as decreased cell proliferation and invasiveness. Ten differentially displayed proteins were determined and validated in vitro and in vivo between the erinacine A‐treated and untreated groups. In addition, erinacine A time‐dependent induction of cell death and inhibitory invasiveness was associated with sustained phosphorylation of the PI3K/mTOR/p70S6K and ROCK1/LIMK2/Cofilin pathways. Furthermore, we demonstrated that erinacine A–induced HCT‐116 and DLD‐1 cells viability and anti‐invasion properties by up‐regulating the activation of PI3K/mTOR/p70S6K and production of ROS. Experiments involving specific inhibitors demonstrated that the differential expression of cofilin‐1 (COFL1) and profilin‐1 (PROF1) during erinacine A treatment could be involved in the mechanisms of HCT‐116 and DLD‐1 cells death and decreased aggressiveness, which occurred via ROCK1/LIMK2/Cofilin expression, with activation of the PI3K/mTOR/p70S6K signalling pathway. These findings elucidate the mechanism of erinacine A inhibiting the aggressive status of cells by activating PI3K/mTOR/p70S6K downstream signalling and the novel protein targets COF1 and PROF1; this could be a good molecular strategy to limit the aggressiveness of CRC cells.     

Acetate metabolism in a pta mutant of Escherichia coli W3110: importance of maintaining acetyl coenzyme A flux for growth and survival.

In order to study the physiological role of acetate metabolism in Escherichia coli, the growth characteristics of an E. coli W3100 pta mutant defective in phosphotransacetylase, the first enzyme of the acetate pathway, were investigated. The pta mutant grown on glucose minimal medium excreted unusual by-products such as pyruvate, D-lactate, and L-glutamate instead of acetate. In an analysis of the sequential consumption of amino acids by the pta mutant growing in tryptone broth (TB), a brief lag between the consumption of amino acids normally consumed was observed, but no such lag occurred for the wild-type strain. The pta mutant was found to grow slowly on glucose, TB, or pyruvate, but it grew normally on glycerol or succinate. The defective growth and starvation survival of the pta mutant were restored by the introduction of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis genes (phbCAB) from Alcaligenes eutrophus, indicating that the growth defect of the pta mutant was due to a perturbation of acetyl coenzyme A (CoA) flux. By the stoichiometric analysis of the metabolic fluxes of the central metabolism, it was found that the amount of pyruvate generated from glucose transport by the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS) exceeded the required amount of precursor metabolites downstream of pyruvate for biomass synthesis. These results suggest that E. coli excretes acetate due to the pyruvate flux from PTS and that any method which alleviates the oversupply of acetyl CoA would restore normal growth to the pta mutant.     

Xenopus GDF6, a new antagonist of noggin and a partner of BMPs.

In Xenopus, ectodermal cell fates are determined by antagonistic interaction between the BMP subfamily of TGF-(beta) ligands and the organizer-specific secreted factors (e.g. noggin, chordin and follistatin). Inhibition of BMP function by these factors can convert cells from an epidermal to a neural cell fate. In this study, we report that GDF6, a new member of the Xenopus TGF-(beta) family, can function in antagonistic interaction with neural inducers. GDF6 induces epidermis and inhibits neural tissue in dissociated cells, and this activity is blocked by the presence of noggin. We demonstrate that GDF6 binds directly to the neural inducer noggin. Furthermore, we find that GDF6 and BMP2 can form heterodimers and the process seems to require cotranslation of the proteins in the same cells. In normal embryos, GDF6 and BMP2 are coexpressed in several places, including the edge of the neural plate at early neurula stages, suggesting that GDF6 may synergize with BMPs to regulate patterning of the ectoderm. Our data show for the first time that noggin can bind directly to and inhibit another TGF-(beta) family member: GDF6. In addition, BMP and GDF6 heterodimers may play an important role in vivo to regulate cell fate determination and patterning.     

Movement of a cytokinesis factor cdc12p to the site of cell division.

A key question in cytokinesis is how the plane of cell division is positioned within the cell. Although a number of cytokinesis factors involved in formation of the actomyosin contractile ring have been identified, little is known about how these factors are localized and assembled at the cell-division site. Cells of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe divide using a medial actomyosin ring that assembles in early mitosis [1]. The S. pombe cdc12 gene encodes a formin, a member of a family of proteins that have functions in cytokinesis and cell polarity and that may bind Rho/Cdc42 GTPases, profilin and other actin-associated proteins [1] [2] [3] [4]. The cdc12 protein (cdc12p) is required specifically for medial-ring assembly during cytokinesis and is a component of this ring [2] [5]. In this study, cdc12p was found, during interphase, in a discrete, motile cytoplasmic spot that moved to the future site of cell division at the onset of mitosis. Three lines of evidence indicated that this cdc12p spot moved on both actin and microtubule networks: movement required either actin or microtubules; the spot was associated with actin and microtubule structures; and individual spots were seen to move along both microtubule and non-microtubule tracks. These findings demonstrate that a cytokinesis factor may travel on both microtubule and actin networks to the future site of cell division.     

Generation of avian-derived anti-B7-H4 antibodies exerts a blockade effect on the immunosuppressive response

For highly conserved mammalian protein, chicken is a suitable immune host to generate antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies have been successfully targeted with immunity checkpoint proteins as a means of cancer treatment; this treatment enhances tumor-specific immunity responses through immunoregulation. Studies have identified the importance of B7-H4 in immunoregulation and its use as a potential target for cancer treatment. High levels of B7-H4 expression are found in tumor tissues and are associated with adverse clinical and pathological characteristics. Using the phage display technique, this study isolated specific single-chain antibody fragments (scFvs) against B7-H4 from chickens. Our experiment proved that B7-H4 clearly induced the inhibition of T-cell activation. Therefore, use of anti-B7-H4 scFvs can effectively block the exhaustion of immunity cells and also stimulate and activate T-cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Sequence analysis revealed that two isolated scFv S2 and S4 have the same VH complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) sequence. Molecule docking was employed to simulate the complex structures of scFv with B7-H4 to analyze the interaction. Our findings revealed that both scFvs employed CDR-H1 and CDR-H3 as main driving forces and had strong binding effects with the B7-H4. The affinity of scFv S2 was better because the CDR-L2 loop of the scFv S2 had three more hydrogen bond interactions with B7-H4. The results of this experiment suggest the usefulness of B7-H4 as a target for immunity checkpoints; the isolated B7-H4-specific chicken antibodies have the potential for use in future cancer immunotherapy applications.     

Reusable biosorbents in capsules from zoogloea ramigera cells for cadmium removal

A biosorbent was prepared by immobilizing and culturing Zoogloea ramigera cells in calcium alginate capsules to high density. The biosorbent (the cell and its exopolysaccharide "Zooglan") along with the [calcium] alginate is known to be responsible for cadmium removal. The dry weight of the biosorbent reached 107 g/L after 3 days of cultivation and 220 g/L after 5 days based on the core volume of a 2.0-mm diameter capsule used. The biosorbents were completely contained in the core of the capsule where the cells grew preferentially near the shell of the capsules while the polymer distributed homogeneously in the core. The specific cadmium uptake by the capsule biosorbent was 1.9 mg/g adsorbent at an initial cadmium concentration of 3 mg/L. This is 1.24 times more than the specific cadmium uptake by the 1.8-mm beads prepared under a comparable condition. The capsules crosslinked with 1% triethylene tetramine and 1% glutamic dialdehyde solutions were superior to the uncrosslinked capsules in mechanical strength. The crosslinked capsules maintained their mechanical strength and adsorption/desorption capacity even after 30 cycles of repeated use. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The tumescent technique: the effect of high tissue pressure and dilute epinephrine on absorption of lidocaine

Injection of lidocaine into the subcutaneous tissues by the tumescent technique results in a delayed absorption of the local anesthetic and has allowed clinicians to exceed the maximum recommended dose of lidocaine without reported complications. However, little knowledge exists about the mechanisms that permit such high doses of lidocaine to be used safely with this technique. The presence of low concentration epinephrine and the increased tissue pressure resulting from the tumescent injection have both been implicated as important factors, but neither has been studied in patients whose results were not altered by the variability of the suction procedure. The purpose of this work was to determine the effect of tissue pressure during tumescent injection and presence of low concentration epinephrine on the absorption of lidocaine from subcutaneous tissues in human volunteers. Twenty healthy female human volunteers were randomized into four study groups. After body fat measurements, all subjects received an injection of 7 mg/kg of lidocaine into the subcutaneous tissues of both lateral thighs. The injected solution consisted of 0.1% lidocaine and 12.5 meq/liter sodium bicarbonate in normal saline with or without 1:1,000,000 epinephrine. Tissue pressure was recorded during injection using a specially designed double-barreled needle. The time required for injection was also recorded. Subjects in group 1 received lidocaine with epinephrine injected by a high-pressure technique. Group 2 subjects received lidocaine with epinephrine injected by a low-pressure technique. Group 3 subjects received lidocaine without epinephrine injected under high pressure. Group 4 subjects received lidocaine without epinephrine injected under low pressure. Following injection, sequential blood samples were drawn over a 14-hour period, and plasma lidocaine concentrations were determined by gas chromatography. No suction lipectomy was performed. Maximum tissue pressure during injection was 339 +/- 63 mmHg and 27 +/- 9 mmHg using high- and low-pressure techniques, respectively. Addition of 1:1,000,000 epinephrine, regardless of the pressure of injected fluid, significantly delayed the time to peak plasma concentration by over 7 hours. There was no significant difference in the peak plasma concentration of lidocaine among the four groups. Peak plasma concentrations greater than 1 mcg/ml were seen in 11 subjects. Epinephrine (1:1,000,000) significantly delays the absorption of lidocaine administered by the tumescent technique. High pressure generated in the subcutaneous tissues during injection of the solution does not affect lidocaine absorption. The delay in absorption may allow time for some lidocaine to be removed from the tissues by suction lipectomy. In addition, the slow rise to peak lidocaine concentration in the epinephrine groups may allow the development of systemic tolerance to high lidocaine plasma levels.