Vacancy in Ultrathin 2D Nanomaterials toward Sustainable Energy Application

The unique physicochemical properties of (2D) nanomaterials make them well‐suited for use in sustainable energy applications. Many of these materials can be further improved with vacancy engineering. This review details recent progress in the vacancy engineering of ultrathin 2D nanomaterials. For clarity, it mainly focuses on various ultrathin 2D materials in three categories: X_a&X_aY_b‐, M_aX_b‐, or M_aX_bY_c‐structured materials. Recently developed vacancies in different types of ultrathin 2D materials, as well as their preparation and characterization, are described. Emphasis is placed on the potential electrochemical energy storage and conversion applications of these materials. This review considers the relationship between vacancy properties and material categories of various ultrathin 2D materials in terms of application requirements, preparation, and characterization techniques. The challenges and future outlook of this promising field are summarized.     

黑水虻卵胚胎发育过程及在生产上的应用

黑水虻作为近年来广受关注的资源昆虫,其规模化应用的基础理论研究成为热点。本文对其胚胎发育过程进行研究,利用显微镜对资源昆虫黑水虻卵孵化发育过程进行观察并拍照,对胚胎各个时期的发育时间和形态进行记录。试验发现,在32℃下,黑水虻卵的发育历期为51 h。黑水虻的胚胎发育经过卵裂期、胚盘胚带形成期、原肠形成期、胚体分节期、体壁形成期、器官形成期6个典型时期。试验对孵化过程中的15个具体发育时期的特征和发育时间进行记录,形成了一套虫卵镜检技术应用于实际生产。在生产上,通过镜检技术对每一批次待孵化虫卵进行镜检观察,可初步判定该批次待孵化虫卵所处的发育阶段和死亡率,预估虫卵孵化时间和孵化率,为规模化稳定培育黑水虻苗种提供理论依据。     

New bioluminescence pyrophosphate assay for high‐sensitivity detection of food‐borne pathogens

Traditional methods of identifying food‐borne pathogens are time consuming and laborious, so innovative methods for their rapid identification must be developed. Testing for bioluminescence pyrophosphate is a convenient and fast method of detecting pathogens without complex equipment. However, the sensitivity of the method is not as high as that of other methods, and it has a very high detection limit. In this study, the method was optimized to improve its sensitivity. The shortcomings of the method were first identified and corrected using dATPαS instead of dATP for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), therefore reducing the background signal. Also, when the DNA template extracted from the food‐borne pathogens was purified, the new bioluminescence pyrophosphate assay had a limit of detection of <10 copy/μl or 10 colony‐forming units/ml, and its sensitivity was higher than that of fluorescent real‐time quantitative PCR. Moreover, a single copy of a food‐borne pathogen could be detected when a single DNA template was included in the PCR. Salmonella was detected in and isolated from 60 samples of broiler chicken, and the accuracy of the results was verified using a culture method (GB 4789.4–2010). These results showed that the new bioluminescence pyrophosphate assay has the advantages of an intuitive detection process, convenient operation, and rapid measurements. Therefore, it can be used for the rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria and probiotics in various fields.     

Implementation of a dose calculation algorithm based on Monte Carlo simulations for treatment planning towards MRI guided ion beam therapy

Magnetic resonance guidance in particle therapy has the potential to improve the current performance of clinical workflows. However, the presence of magnetic fields challenges the current algorithms for treatment planning. To ensure proper dose calculations, compensation methods are required to guarantee that the maximum deposited energy of deflected beams lies in the target volume. In addition, proper modifications of the intrinsic dose calculation engines, accounting for magnetic fields, are needed. In this work, an algorithm for proton treatment planning in magnetic fields was implemented in a research treatment planning system (TPS), matRad. Setup-specific look up tables were generated using a validated MC model for a clinical proton beamline (62.4 – 215.7 MeV) interacting with a dipole magnet (B = 0–1 T). The algorithm was successfully benchmarked against MC simulations in water, showing gamma index (2%/2mm) global pass rates higher than 96% for different plan configurations. Additionally, absorbed depth doses were compared with experimental measurements in water. Differences within 2% and 3.5% in the Bragg peak and entrance regions, respectively, were found. Finally, treatment plans were generated and optimized for magnetic field strengths of 0 and 1 T to assess the performance of the proposed model. Equivalent treatment plans and dose volume histograms were achieved, independently of the magnetic field strength. Differences lower than 1.5% for plan quality indicators (D_2%, D_50%, D_90%, V_95% and V_105%) in water, a TG119 phantom and an exemplary prostate patient case were obtained. More complex treatment planning studies are foreseen to establish the limits of applicability of the proposed model.     

Management of pine wilt disease vectoring Monochamus alternatus adults using spray and soil application of Metarhizium anisopliae JEF isolates

Chemical control is widely used to control the Japanese pine sawyer beetle, Monochamus alternatus, but strong chemical regulations require an environmentally sound management strategy. In this work, we investigated the use of entomopathogenic fungi and their application as a means of practical pest management. Thirty-two diverse species of fungal isolates were assayed against adult pine sawyer beetles using a contact method under laboratory conditions, and four isolates showed over 70% virulence consequently. These isolates, two each of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae were sprayed on the adult beetles at 1 × 10⁷ conidia/ml in plastic containers, respectively. The M. anisopliae-treated adult beetles showed 67% mortality. M. anisopliae isolates JEF-197 and JEF-279 demonstrated dosage-dependent insecticidal activity. Following the laboratory experiments, semi-field trials were conducted in young pine trees under high (RH 94%) and low (RH 35%) humidity conditions. In the high humidity conditions, most of the adult beetles stayed on the top of the branches. When the two M. anisopliae isolates were sprayed on the beetles, they showed ca. 50–70% insecticidal activity 11 days after application. In contrast, in low humidity conditions, the adult beetles tried to move off the branches and onto the soil. When the beetles reached the JEF-197 and JEF-279-treated soil, we measured >90% insecticidal activity. This work suggests that M. anisopliae was the most virulent entomopathogenic fungus against adult Japanese pine sawyer beetles, and this forest insect could be ecologically controlled by the spray and soil application of the M. anisopliae isolates.     

水分驱动下茵陈蒿(Artemisia capillaris Thunb.)地上生物量模型与异速生长特征

构建生物量预估模型,探究生物量在各器官中的分配策略和异速生长关系及其对环境因子的响应,对理解植物群落结构、功能、碳储存和分配机制具有重要意义。本研究以内蒙古荒漠草原常见种茵陈蒿(Artemisia capillaris Thunb.)为对象,在不同水分处理下,利用易测指标,如株高、基径、分枝数、冠幅和生物量等参数建立生物量模型,采用标准化主轴分析法分析其异速生长关系。结果表明:在不同水分处理下,茵陈蒿的最佳生物量预估模型的变量选择不同;不同水分处理下茵陈蒿各器官间、各器官与地上生物量间的异速生长关系不同,但相对于自然降水量,增水和减水50%下均为等速生长,这说明在不同水分条件下茵陈蒿对各器官间的资源配置存在权衡策略,符合最优分配假说;而在极端气候条件下,各器官对资源的竞争会变弱;在荒漠草原中,对草本植物进行生物量模拟,选择预测变量和方程模型时,应考虑生长季降水量。本研究可为荒漠草原草本植物生物量预估模型的建立和异速生长关系对环境因子适应的理解等提供方法支持及理论依据。     

施硅对增温稻田CH4和N2O排放的影响

夜间增温幅度大于白天是气候变暖的显著特征。夜间增温影响水稻生产及CH4和N2O排放。硅是作物有益元素,施硅可提高产量,减少稻田CH4排放。增温或施硅单因子对稻田CH4和N2O排放影响已有报道,但二者耦合如何影响水稻生产及稻田CH4和N2O排放,尚不清楚。通过田间模拟试验,研究了夜间增温下施硅对水稻生长、产量及温室气体持续增温/冷却潜势和排放强度的影响。采用铝箔反光膜夜间(19:00-6:00)覆盖水稻冠层进行模拟夜间增温试验。增温设2水平,即常温对照(CK)和夜间增温(NW);施硅量设2水平,即Si0(不施硅)和Si1(钢渣硅肥,200 kgSiO2/ha)。结果表明,施硅可缓解夜间增温对水稻根系活力的抑制作用,降低夜间增温对水稻地上部、地下部干重和产量的抑制作用。夜间增温显著提高CH4累计排放量,而施硅显著降低CH4累计排放量。夜间增温下施硅处理稻田CH4累计排放量在分蘖期、拔节期、抽穗-扬花期和灌浆成熟期比未施硅处理分别低48.12%、49.16%、61.59%和39.13%。夜间增温或施硅均促进稻田N2O排放,夜间增温下施硅在上述生育期以及全生育期的累计排放量依次比对照高78.17%、51.45%、52.01%、26.14%和40.70%。研究认为,施硅可缓解夜间增温对稻田综合增温潜势和排放强度的促进作用。     

Brain tumors: Cancer stem-like cells interact with tumor microenvironment

Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) with potential of self-renewal drive tumorigenesis. Brain tumor microenvironment (TME) has been identified as a critical regulator of malignancy progression. Many researchers are searching new ways to characterize tumors with the goal of predicting how they respond to treatment. Here, we describe the striking parallels between normal stem cells and CSCs. We review the microenvironmental aspects of brain tumors, in particular composition and vital roles of immune cells infiltrating glioma and medulloblastoma. By highlighting that CSCs cooperate with TME via various cellular communication approaches, we discuss the recent advances in therapeutic strategies targeting the components of TME. Identification of the complex and interconnected factors can facilitate the development of promising treatments for these deadly malignancies.     

幽门螺杆菌外膜囊泡研究进展

幽门螺杆菌(Helicobacter pylori)被认为是引起人类胃部疾病的元凶之一。外膜囊泡(Outer Membrane Vesicles,OMVs)是由细菌外膜自发脱落而形成的囊泡状结构,其具有细菌外膜多数成分,包括外膜蛋白、多糖、脂质以及其他蛋白组分。越来越多的研究正在关注外膜囊泡在幽门螺杆菌感染、发生、发展过程中的作用。同时,研究表明幽门螺杆菌外膜囊泡作为疫苗,在防治幽门螺杆菌感染中也展现了良好的应用潜力。因此,本综述总结了目前关于幽门螺杆菌外膜囊泡组成成分的研究,并讨论了外膜囊泡在幽门螺杆菌存活和致病机制中的作用,以及外膜囊泡在幽门螺杆菌感染治疗中发挥的作用。