Pb‐Reduced CsPb0.9Zn0.1I2Br Thin Films for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells

Fabrication of efficient Pb reduced inorganic CsPbI₂Br perovskite solar cells (PSC) are an important part of environment‐friendly perovskite technology. In this work, 10% Pb reduction in CsPb_0.9Zn_0.1I₂Br promotes the efficiency of PSCs to 13.6% (AM1.5, 1sun), much higher than the 11.8% of the pure CsPbI₂Br solar cell. Zn²⁺ has stronger interaction with the anions to manipulate crystal growth, resulting in size‐enlarged crystallite with enhanced growth orientation. Moreover, the grain boundaries (GBs) are passivated by the Cs‐Zn‐I/Br compound. The high quality CsPb_0.9Zn_0.1I₂Br greatly diminishes the GB trap states and facilitates the charge transport. Furthermore, the Zn4s‐I5p states slightly reduce the energy bandgap, accounting for the wider solar spectrum absorption. Both the crystalline morphology and energy state change benefit the device performance. This work highlights a nontoxic and stable Pb reduction method to achieve efficient inorganic PSCs.     

A high-throughput screening method for improved R-2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propionic acid biosynthesis

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering - R-2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propionic acid (R-HPPA) is a key intermediate of the enantiomerically pure phenoxypropionic acid herbicides. R-HPPA could be...     

Interfacial Solar‐to‐Heat Conversion for Desalination

Solar desalination is a promising and sustainable solution for water shortages in the future. Interfacial solar‐to‐heat conversion for desalination has attracted increasing attention in the past decades, due to the heat localization induced high thermal efficiency, simple structure, and low cost. In this review, the authors summarize and analyze the critical processes involved in such a solar desalination system, including the thermal conversion and transport, salt dissipation, and vapor manipulation. Mathematical models of heat transfer and salt dissipation are also built for quantitative analysis of systematic performance relative to properties of employed materials and system designs. Recent efforts devoted to improving the overall thermal efficiency, salt rejection, and water yield are then summarized. Based on the analysis and previous results, opportunities for further interfacial solar desalination development are highlighted.     

Identification of Prolificacy‐Related Differentially Expressed Proteins from Sheep (Ovis aries) Hypothalamus by Comparative Proteomics

Reproduction, as a physiologically complex process, can significantly affect the development of the sheep industry. However, a lack of overall understanding to sheep fecundity has long blocked the progress in sheep breeding and husbandry. In the present study, the aim is to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) from hypothalamus in sheep without FecB mutation in two comparison groups: polytocous (PF) versus monotocous (MF) sheep at follicular phase and polytocous (PL) versus monotocous (ML) sheep at luteal phase. Totally 5058 proteins are identified in sheep hypothalamus, where 22 in PF versus MF, and 39 proteins in PL versus ML are differentially expressed, respectively. A functional analysis is then conducted including Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis to reveal the potential roles of these DEPs. The proteins ENSOARP00000020097, ENSOARP00000006714, growth hormone (GH), histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4), and 5′‐3′ exoribonuclease 2 (XRN2) in PF versus MF, and bcl‐2‐associated athanogene 4 (BAG4), insulin‐like growth factor‐1 receptor (IGF1R), hydroxysteroid 11‐beta dehydrogenase 1 (HSD11B1), and transthyretin (TTR) in PL versus ML appear to modulate reproduction, presumably by influencing the activities of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH). This study provides an alternative method to identify DEPs associated with sheep prolificacy from the hypothalamus. The mass spectrometry data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD013822.     

Immobilization of laccase onto modified PU/RC nanofiber via atom transfer radical polymerization method and application in removal of bisphenol A

In this study, 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was used as the monomers for surface grafting on electrospun PU/RC nanofiber membrane via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method, and the PU/RC‐poly(HEMA) nanofiber membrane was investigated as a carrier for LAC. Free and immobilized LAC was characterized, and efficiency of bisphenol A (BPA) removal was determined. The results indicated that the PU/RC‐poly(HEMA)‐LAC showed relatively higher pH stability, temperature stability, and storage stability than free and PU/RC‐LAC; moreover, more than 60% of the PU/RC‐poly(HEMA)‐LAC activity was retained after 10 cycles of ABTS treatment. Notably, the BPA removal efficiency of PU/RC‐poly(HEMA)‐LAC membrane generally ranged from 87.3 to 75.4% for the five cycles. Therefore, the PU/RC‐poly(HEMA) nanofiber membrane has great potential as a carrier for the LAC immobilization for various industrial applications and bioremediation.     

DNA Methylation and SNPs in VCX are Correlated with Sex Differences in the Response to Chronic Hepatitis B

The study was conducted to explore the mechanisms of sex differences in the response to chronic hepatitis B(CHB) in terms of DNA methylation, SNP genotype, and gene expression. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) of CHB patients and healthy controls and evaluated using the Human Methylation 450 K Assay. The DNA methylation level at hg37 chromosome(CHR) X: 7810800 was further validated using pyrosequencing.SNP genotypes, VCX m RNA expression of PBMCs, and plasma VCX protein concentration were further examined using SNaPshot, RT-qPCR, and Western blot, respectively. Results showed that a total of 5529 CpG loci were differentially methylated between male and female CHB patients. DNA methylation level and CC+CT frequency at CHR X: 7810800,VCX mRNA expression of PBMCs, and plasma VCX protein concentration were higher in female than in male CHB patients. The CHR X: 7810800 locus was hypermethylated in CHB patients with CC+CT genotypes in comparison with those with the TT genotype. In cases of CC+CT genotypes, VCX mRNA expression was negatively correlated with the DNA methylation level. CHB patients with higher levels of HBV DNA, AST, and GGT or higher GPRI scores exhibited lower VCX expression. In conclusion, SNPs and DNA methylation at the CHR X: 7810800 locus cooperatively regulate VCX expression in CHB. The upregulated VCX expression in female CHB patients might represent a mechanism of protection from more severe liver dysfunction and extensive fibrosis, as observed in male CHB patients.     

DNA条形码在热带龙脑香科树种鉴定中的应用

龙脑香科植物是东南亚地区重要的热带木材来源树种, 对其开展DNA条形码评估在林业监管及森林资源保护等方面具有非常重要的实际应用价值。通过对龙脑香科植物样品进行rbcL、matK、trnL-trnF和ITS2四个片段的扩增和测序, 结合GenBank下载的数据, 共获得龙脑香科树种14属244种共计899条序列。通过比较4个片段的通用性、序列特征、种内和种间的遗传变异, 基于Best Match (BM)、Best Close Match (BCM)、相似性搜索算法(BLAST)和邻接树(NJ) 4种方法评估DNA条形码对于龙脑香科树种的鉴定能力。结果表明, ITS2在龙脑香科树种中鉴定效率最高, 通过优化的扩增体系能够从该科植物叶片中获得较高质量的ITS2片段; 叶绿体matK片段扩增和测序效率为100%, 且种内及种间遗传变异明显, 鉴定成功率高于其它叶绿体片段, 并据此提出ITS2和matK适合作为龙脑香科树种的DNA条形码。     

Transgenic creeping bentgrass overexpressing Osa‐miR393a exhibits altered plant development and improved multiple stress tolerance

MicroRNA393 (miR393) has been implicated in plant growth, development and multiple stress responses in annual species such as Arabidopsis and rice. However, the role of miR393 in perennial grasses remains unexplored. Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) is an environmentally and economically important C3 cool‐season perennial turfgrass. Understanding how miR393 functions in this representative turf species would allow the development of novel strategies in genetically engineering grass species for improved abiotic stress tolerance. We have generated and characterized transgenic creeping bentgrass plants overexpressing rice pri‐miR393a (Osa‐miR393a). We found that Osa‐miR393a transgenics had fewer, but longer tillers, enhanced drought stress tolerance associated with reduced stomata density and denser cuticles, improved salt stress tolerance associated with increased uptake of potassium and enhanced heat stress tolerance associated with induced expression of small heat‐shock protein in comparison with wild‐type controls. We also identified two targets of miR393, AsAFB2 and AsTIR1, whose expression is repressed in transgenics. Taken together, our results revealed the distinctive roles of miR393/target module in plant development and stress responses between creeping bentgrass and other annual species, suggesting that miR393 would be a promising candidate for generating superior crop cultivars with enhanced multiple stress tolerance, thus contributing to agricultural productivity.