Quantum‐Dot Sensitized Solar Cells Employing Hierarchical Cu2S Microspheres Wrapped by Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanosheets as Effective Counter Electrodes

Hierarchical Cu₂S microspheres wrapped by reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheets are prepared via a one‐step solvothermal process. The amount of graphene oxide used in the synthesis process has a remarkable effect on the features of Cu₂S microspheres. Compared to Pt and Cu₂S electrodes, RGO‐Cu₂S electrodes show better electrocatalytic activity, greater stability, lower charge‐transfer resistance, and higher exchange current density. As expected, RGO‐Cu₂S electrodes exhibit superior performance when functioning as counter electrodes in CdS/CdSe quantum dot‐sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) using a polysulfide electrolyte. A power conversion efficiency up to 3.85% is achieved for the QDSSC employing an optimized RGO‐Cu₂S counter electrode, which is higher than those of the QDSSCs featuring Pt (2.14%) and Cu₂S (3.39%) counter electrodes.     

Feasibility assessment and implementation strategies of green care in rural Taiwan

Pursuing the rural idyll for retirement is especially a popular age-old dream for Taiwan people. Farming for health is an emerging trend, which drivers to initiate a green care service based on a combination of agriculture resources and traditional care. The purposes of this study were to assess the feasibility of green care in rural communities and to propose implementation strategies for varied rural area types in Taiwan. This study was conducted with two stags. A feasibility study comprising two aspects of political and environmental feasibilities was assessed in the first stage. The political feasibility was assessed based on social demand and government policies. Accordingly, three alternative models for senior green care participation were proposed, including green occupational therapy (for residents), rural long-stay tourism (for tourists), and agricultural working holiday (for volunteers). The environmental feasibility assessment was conducted in 102 rural communities in northern Taiwan. Five indexes, including the natural environment, rural resources, public facilities, senior care, and community capacity, were used to evaluate the potential of communities for developing green care. The results showed that green care implementing active aging in place in rural areas is feasible. Seventeen communities with plentiful or unique rural resources and high-quality community capacity were recommended as potential communities. In the second stage, a multiple case study was conducted in three communities representing different alternative models of green care. The community leader interviews, on-site investigations, vision forum, and operation workshop were adopted to propose the implementation strategies of green care for three communities, respectively, including human resource, volunteer or tourist management, revenue distribution, and marketing.

     

Generation and Characterization of a Nanobody Against SARS-CoV

Virologica Sinica - The sudden emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) has caused global panic in 2003, and the risk of SARS-CoV outbreak still exists. However, no...     

Structure and Function of N-Terminal Zinc Finger Domain of SARS-CoV-2 NSP2

Virologica Sinica - SARS-CoV-2 has become a global pandemic threatening human health and safety. It is urgent to find effective therapeutic agents and targets with the continuous emergence of novel...     

Analyzing the action of evolutionarily conserved modules on HMW-GS 1Ax1 promoter activity

Key message

The specific and high-level expression of 1Ax1 is determined by different promoter regions. HMW-GS synthesis occurs in aleurone layer cells. Heterologous proteins can be stored in protein bodies.

Abstract

High-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) is highly expressed in the endosperm of wheat and relative species, where their expression level and allelic variation affect the bread-making quality and nutrient quality of flour. However, the mechanism regulating HMW-GS expression remains elusive. In this study, we analyzed the distribution of cis-acting elements in the 2659-bp promoter region of the HMW-GS gene 1Ax1, which can be divided into five element-enriched regions. Fragments derived from progressive 5′ deletions were used to drive GUS gene expression in transgenic wheat, which was confirmed in aleurone layer cells, inner starchy endosperm cells, starchy endosperm transfer cells, and aleurone transfer cells by histochemical staining. The promoter region ranging from ??297 to ??1 was responsible for tissue-specific expression, while fragments from ??1724 to ??618 and from ??618 to ??297 were responsible for high-level expression. Under the control of the 1Ax1 promoter, heterologous protein could be stored in the form of protein bodies in inner starchy endosperm cells, even without a special location signal. Our findings not only deepen our understanding of glutenin expression regulation, trafficking, and accumulation but also provide a strategy for the utilization of wheat endosperm as a bioreactor for the production of nutrients and metabolic products.

     

Optimal Aspect Ratio and Excitation Spectral Region of LSPR Sensors Using Individual Au Dimmeric Nanoplates

Plasmonics - Both the excitation wavelength and aspect ratio AR are key parameters controlling the refractive index sensitivity performances of plasmonic sensors of individual Au nanoplate dimmers....     

Carbon footprints of grain-, forage-, and energy-based cropping systems in the North China plain

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - Low carbon footprint agriculture has received increasing attention in the effect of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate...     

miR-129-5p improves cardiac function in rats with chronic heart failure through targeting HMGB1

Mammalian Genome - Increasing evidence shows that miRNAs play pivotal roles in cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to investigate the role of miR-129-5p...     

基于高通量测序的闽楠幼林根际土壤丛枝菌根真菌群落变化

[背景]闽楠是珍贵用材树种.阐明闽楠根际土壤微生物特征,对科学经营闽楠人工林有指导作用.[目的]明确闽楠人工林恢复过程中根际土壤丛枝菌根群落随林龄的变化特征.[方法]采用高通量Illumina MiSeq测序的方法,评估不同林龄闽楠幼林根际土壤丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi,AMF...