High‐Efficiency Thermoelectric Power Generation Enabled by Homogeneous Incorporation of MXene in (Bi,Sb)2Te3 Matrix

The (Bi,Sb)₂Te₃ (BST) compounds have long been considered as the benchmark of thermoelectric (TE) materials near room temperature especially for refrigeration. However, their unsatisfactory TE performances in wide‐temperature range severely restrict the large‐scale applications for power generation. Here, using a self‐assembly protocol to deliver a homogeneous dispersion of 2D inclusion in matrix, the first evidence is shown that incorporation of MXene (Ti₃C₂T_x) into BST can simultaneously achieve the improved power factor and greatly reduced thermal conductivity. The oxygen‐terminated Ti₃C₂T_x with proper work function leads to highly increased electrical conductivity via hole injection and retained Seebeck coefficient due to the energy barrier scattering. Meanwhile, the alignment of Ti₃C₂T_x with the layered structure significantly suppresses the phonon transport, resulting in higher interfacial thermal resistance. Accordingly, a peak ZT of up to 1.3 and an average ZT value of 1.23 from 300 to 475 K are realized for the 1 vol% Ti₃C₂T_x/BST composite. Combined with the high‐performance composite and rational device design, a record‐high thermoelectric conversion efficiency of up to 7.8% is obtained under a temperature gradient of 237 K. These findings provide a robust and scalable protocol to incorporate MXene as a versatile 2D inclusion for improving the overall performance of TE materials toward high energy‐conversion efficiency.     

Interlock可解脱弹簧圈在脾动脉瘤腔内治疗中的应用

目的:探究Interlock可解脱弹簧圈在脾动脉瘤的腔内治疗中的应用价值。方法:回顾性分析2016年2月至2019年2月于本中心使用Interlock可解脱弹簧圈治疗的36例脾动脉瘤患者的临床资料,包括10例男性,26例女性,31例真性动脉瘤,5例假性脾动脉瘤,术前均行超声或CTA明确诊断。术中栓塞后,立即血管造影以明确技术成功率。围手术期及术后2周、3个月和6个月监测血常规、胰淀粉酶和主动脉CTA,观察并发症的发生情况。结果:6例患者弹簧圈栓塞动脉瘤远近端及瘤腔,其余仅栓塞脾动脉瘤瘤腔。术中DSA血管造影提示即刻脾动脉瘤栓塞闭塞率为97%以上,术中共使用128枚Interlock弹簧圈,其中104枚为钻石型,24枚为普通2D型。弹簧圈平均直径为6.3±4.2(2-12)mm,平均长度为16±13.5(3-32)mm,瘤体平均尺寸为40.6±12.5(15-70) mm。围手术期无并发症发生。平均随访10.0±3.2(6-15)个月,1月后2例出现脾梗死,7例发生轻微腹痛及低热等症状,所有病例均未见瘤腔再通和瘤体增大。结论:Interlock可解脱弹簧圈可以安全有效地治疗脾动脉瘤,但其远期疗效需长期随访观察。     

水椰八角铁甲不同日龄和性别成虫表皮碳氢化合物的种类及动态

水椰八角铁甲Octodonta nipae(Maulik)是一种严重为害棕榈科植物的外来入侵害虫。为了明确日龄和性别等个体因素对水椰八角铁甲成虫表皮碳氢化合物的影响,本研究采用化学萃取法和气相色谱-质谱联用技术,分析了不同日龄的水椰八角铁甲雌、雄成虫表皮碳氢化合物的组成和含量。结果表明,水椰八角铁甲成虫的表皮碳氢化合物由21种C_(18)-C_(30)的碳氢化合物构成,包括11种正构烷烃、2种单甲基烷烃、1种多甲基烷烃、3种正构烯烃、1种单甲基烯烃和3种环烷烃。不同日龄和性别成虫的表皮碳氢化合物的组成种类相同,但是一些组分的含量有明显变化,例如1 d、5 d、10 d和15 d雌、雄成虫之间正二十四烷、正二十六烷、2-甲基十九烷和1-二十烯的含量存在显著差异。水椰八角铁甲成虫表皮碳氢化合物具有性二型,如性成熟雄虫的表皮的正二十烷、正二十一烷、正二十四烷、正二十六烷、2-甲基十九烷、10-甲基二十烷、1-二十烯和1-二十二烯的含量显著高于性成熟雌虫。本文的研究结果可为检验检疫过程中水椰八角铁甲近缘种,以及日龄、性别和性成熟的快速鉴定提供支持。     

Could urinary ACE2 protein level help identify individuals susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and complication?

Science China Life Sciences -     

全反式维甲酸对骺软骨细胞生物学行为及其功能影响的研究

该研究主要探讨了体外高浓度全反式维甲酸(all-trans retinoic acid,ATRA)对SD大鼠骺软骨细胞生物学性状和功能的影响以及体内ATRA对SD大鼠胫骨生长板的影响。以SD大鼠骺软骨细胞为研究对象、ATRA为干预因素,采用CCK-8、细胞流式术、HE染色、Annexin V-FITC细胞凋亡流式检测术、Hoechst染色、细胞划痕、Transwell实验分别评估ATRA处理后细胞的增殖、周期、形态、凋亡及迁移情况,Western blot检测蛋白聚糖、Ⅱ型胶原、X型胶原等相关功能蛋白的变化;以3周雄性SD大鼠为实验对象,分为对照组、60 mg/kg·d ATRA组、80 mg/kg·d ATRA组,进行10天连续ATRA灌胃处理,测量每只SD大鼠灌胃第1天、第10天的头尾长,处理10天后对胫骨生长板进行HE染色。结果表明,ATRA作用SD大鼠骺软骨细胞后,增殖能力减弱且细胞周期被阻滞在S期(P<0.01),细胞形态由三角形、多边形变为长条状,凋亡的发生增多(P<0.01),迁移能力受到抑制(P<0.05)以及Western blot结果显示蛋白聚糖、Ⅱ型胶原、X型胶原等功能相关蛋白较对照组表达均明显降低(P<0.01);对SD大鼠进行ATRA灌胃处理后,与对照组比较,60 mg/kg·d ATRA组和80 mg/kg·d ATRA组的头尾长均变短(P<0.01);胫骨生长板HE染色显示,ATRA灌胃组的生长板变窄甚至闭合。该研究证实了体外高浓度ATRA能够对SD大鼠骺软骨细胞的增殖、迁移起抑制作用,同时能够诱导凋亡,降低相关功能蛋白的表达,在SD大鼠体内证实,过量ATRA可影响生长板软骨内成骨过程,最终使生长板部分或全部提前闭合,进而影响SD大鼠身长的增长。     

GPI7-mediated glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchoring regulates appressorial penetration and immune evasion during infection of Magnaporthe oryzae

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring plays key roles in many biological processes by targeting proteins to the cell wall; however, its roles are largely unknown in plant pathogenic fungi. Here, we reveal the roles of the GPI anchoring in Magnaporthe oryzae during plant infection. The GPI-anchored proteins were found to highly accumulate in appressoria and invasive hyphae. Disruption of GPI7, a GPI anchor-pathway gene, led to a significant reduction in virulence. The Δgpi7 mutant showed significant defects in penetration and invasive growth. This mutant also displayed defects of the cell wall architecture, suggesting GPI7 is required for cell wall biogenesis. Removal of GPI-anchored proteins in the wild-type strain by hydrofluoric acid (HF) pyridine treatment exposed both the chitin and β-1,3-glucans to the host immune system. Exposure of the chitin and β-1,3-glucans was also observed in the Δgpi7 mutant, indicating GPI-anchored proteins are required for immune evasion. The GPI anchoring can regulate subcellular localization of the Gel proteins in the cell wall for appressorial penetration and abundance of which for invasive growth. Our results indicate the GPI anchoring facilitates the penetration of M. oryzae into host cells by affecting the cell wall integrity and the evasion of host immune recognition.     

NbALY916 is involved in potato virus X P25-triggered cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana

Systemic necrosis often occurs during viral infection of plants and is thought mainly to be the result of long-term stress induced by viral infection. Potato virus X (PVX) encodes the P25 pathogenicity factor that triggers a necrotic reaction during PVX-potato virus Ysynergistic coinfection. In this study, we discovered that NbALY916, a multifunctional nuclear protein, could interact with P25. When NbALY916 expression was reduced by tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-based virus-induced gene silencing, the accumulation of P25 was increased, which would be expected to cause more severe necrosis. However, silencing of NbALY916 reduced the extent of cell death caused by P25. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of NbALY916 increased the accumulation of H₂O₂ and triggered more extensive cell death when coexpressed with P25, even though accumulation of P25 was itself reduced by the increased expression of NbALY916. Furthermore, transient expression of P25 specifically induced the expression of NbALY916 mRNA, but not the mRNAs of three other ALYs in Nicotiana benthamiana. In addition, we showed that silencing of NbALY916 or transient overexpression of NbALY916 affected the infection of PVX in N. benthamiana. Our results reveal that NbALY916 has an antiviral role that, in the case of PVX, operates by inducing the accumulation of H₂O₂ and mediating the degradation of P25.