Efficient Passivation of Hybrid Perovskite Solar Cells Using Organic Dyes with COOH Functional Group

Organic–inorganic halide perovskites are efficient absorbers for solar cells. Nevertheless, the trap states at the surfaces and grain boundaries are a detrimental factor compromising the device performance. Here, an organic dye (AQ310) is employed as passivator to reduce the trap states of the perovskites and promote better stability. The results demonstrate that the trap states of perovskite are minimized by the presence of AQ310's ?COOH group and the formation of coordination with under‐coordinated Pb²⁺ ions. The resulting carrier recombination time is prolonged and verified by the photoluminescence and open‐circuit voltage decay measurements. Consequently, the best average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.43% is achieved for the perovskite solar cell (PSC) with AQ310 passivation, as compared with a low average PCE of 17.98% for the PSC without AQ310 passivation.     

A new xanthene‐based two‐photon fluorescent probe for the imaging of 1,4‐dithiothreitol (DTT) in living cells

1,4‐Dithiothreitol (DTT) has wide applications in cell biology and biochemistry. Development of effective methods for monitoring DTT in biological systems is important for the safe handling and study of toxicity to humans. Herein, we describe a two‐photon fluorescence probe (Rh‐DTT) to detect DTT in living systems for the first time. Rh‐DTT showed high selectivity and sensitivity to DTT. Rh‐DTT can be successfully used for the two‐photon imaging of DTT in living cells, and also can detect DTT in living tissues and mice.     

Negative pressure wound therapy promotes muscle‐derived stem cell osteogenic differentiation through MAPK pathway

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been revealed to be effective in the treatment of open fractures, although the underlying mechanism is not clear. This article aimed to investigate the effects of NPWT on muscle‐derived stem cell (MDSC) osteoblastic differentiation and the related potential mechanism. The cell proliferation rate was substantially increased in NPWT‐treated MDSCs in comparison with a static group for 3 days. There was no observable effect on the apoptosis of MDSC treated with NPWT compared with the control group for 3 days. The expression levels of HIF‐1α, BMP‐2, COL‐I, OST and OPN were increased on days 3, 7 and 14, but the expression level of Runx2 was increased on days 3 and 7 in the NPWT group. Pre‐treatment, the specific inhibitors were added into the MDSCs treated with NPWT and the control group. ALP activity and mineralization were reduced by inhibiting the ERK1/2, p38 and JNK pathways. The expression levels of Runx2, COL‐I, OST and OPN genes and proteins were also decreased using the specific MAPK pathway inhibitors on days 3, 7 and 14. There were no significant effects on the expression of BMP‐2 except on day 3. However, the expressions of the HIF‐1α gene and protein slightly increased when the JNK pathway was inhibited. Therefore, NPWT promotes the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MDSCs through the MAPK pathway.     

Active Transport of Membrane Components by Self-Organization of the Min Proteins

Heterogeneous distribution of components in the biological membrane is critical in the process of cell polarization. However, little is known about the mechanisms that can generate and maintain the heterogeneous distribution of the membrane components. Here, we report that the propagating wave patterns of the bacterial Min proteins can impose steric pressure on the membrane, resulting in transport and directional accumulation of the component in the membrane. Therefore, the membrane component waves represent transport of the component in the membrane that is caused by the steric pressure gradient induced by the differential levels of binding and dissociation of the Min proteins in the propagating waves on the membrane surface. The diffusivity, majorly influenced by the membrane anchor of the component, and the repulsed ability, majorly influenced by the steric property of the membrane component, determine the differential spatial distribution of the membrane component. Thus, transportation of the membrane component by the Min proteins follows a simple physical principle, which resembles a linear peristaltic pumping process, to selectively segregate and maintain heterogeneous distribution of materials in the membrane.

贵州北盘江喀斯特地区车桑子造林对乡土植物物种多样性的影响

为明确车桑子(Dodonaea viscosa)造林对北盘江喀斯特地区乡土植物物种多样性的影响,该研究采用群落样地调查法对不同车桑子覆盖度(0、20%、40%、60%、80%、100%)下的植物群落进行实地调查,并对其植物群落的物种多样性进行了对比分析。结果表明:(1)随车桑子覆盖度的增加,群落物种数及高位芽物种数有所下降,留下的物种多为地面芽、隐芽和一年生的草本植物。(2)随车桑子覆盖度的增加,Margalef指数、Simpson指数、Shan-non-Wiener指数及Pielou指数均呈下降趋势,群落中植物的种类和数量均减少,群落结构趋于简单,稳定性降低。(3)随车桑子覆盖度的增加,群落的物种组成不断发生替换,且草本植物的物种替代率均大于木本植物,但群落中物种间替代率呈先降低后升高的趋势,相邻两覆盖度之间的物种相似性系数呈先增加后减小的趋势。研究认为,当车桑子覆盖度≥60%后,乡土植物物种丰富度、多样性相对较低,物种分配不均匀,群落结构变简单,稳定性较差,不利于群落向更高级的演替阶段发展。     

定量毛细管电泳法测定虫草类保健品中的核苷及碱基类物质

目的:定量毛细管电泳法因采用了定量阀进样的方式,其进样量为固定值,定量结果更加可靠,且重复性好。本文探讨了采用定量毛细管电泳方法测定市售虫草类保健品中虫草素、腺嘌呤、尿嘧啶、腺苷、尿苷含量的可行性,优化了分析条件,并对其进行含量测定。方法:以浓度为40 mM、pH 9.5的硼砂为缓冲液,工作电压为-15 kv,采用定量毛细管电泳的方测定了虫草类制品中的核苷及碱基类物质的含量。结果:五种核苷及碱基类物质在优化的定量毛细管电泳条件下得到了良好的分离和定量结果,峰面积RSD值小于1.4%,测定了其在虫草菌丝体粉末及虫草王胶囊中的含量。结论:首次利用定量毛细管电泳法对虫草类保健品中的虫草素、腺嘌呤、尿嘧啶、腺苷、尿苷的含量进行了定量测定,不同形式虫草类保健品中核苷、碱基的种类和含量有差异。该方法快速、准确,对虫草类保健品的质量控制有重要意义。     

Chromosome‐level genome assembly of the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood)

The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood, is an agricultural pest of global importance. Here we report a 787‐Mb high‐quality draft genome sequence of T. vaporariorum assembled from PacBio long reads and Hi‐C chromatin interaction maps, which has scaffold and contig N50 lengths of 70 Mb and 500 kb, respectively, and contains 18,275 protein‐coding genes. About 98.8% of the assembled contigs were placed onto the 11 T. vaporariorum chromosomes. Comparative genomic analysis reveals significantly expanded gene families such as aspartyl proteases in T. vaporariorum compared to Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean (MED) and Middle East‐Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1). Furthermore, the cytochrome CYP6 subfamily shows significant expansion in T. vaporariorum and several genes in this subfamily display developmental stage‐specific expression patterns. The high‐quality T. vaporariorum genome provides a valuable resource for research in a broad range of areas such as fundamental molecular ecology, insect–plant/insect–microorganism or virus interactions and pest resistance management.     

TNF-α-308G/A Polymorphism Contributes to Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Risk: Evidence Based on 10 Case-Control Studies

Objective

The aim of our study was to investigate the association between the TNF-α-308G/A polymorphism and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

Method

The Medline, Web of Science, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to study TNF-α-308G/A polymorphism and risk of OSAS.

Result

10 case-control studies were included in our meta-analysis. The results from our study showed that the TNF-α-308G/A polymorphism was significantly associated with risk of OSAS (A vs. G: OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.43–1.95). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the statistical similar results were observed both in European (A vs. G: OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.35–2.08) and Asian population (A vs. G: OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.50–2.71). When stratified by age, a significantly increased risk was observed in adult carries A allele compared with G allele (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.50–2.13), whereas no association was found in children (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.70–1.69).

Conclusion

Our study suggested that the TNF-α- 308G/A polymorphism contributed to the susceptibility to the risk of OSAS. Additional well-designed large studies are needed to validate our findings.