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.     

Indoor Thin‐Film Photovoltaics: Progress and Challenges

Energy generation and consumption have always been an important component of social development. Interests in this field are beginning to shift to indoor photovoltaics (IPV) which can serve as power sources under low light conditions to meet the energy needs of rapidly growing fields, such as intelligence gathering and information processing which usually operate via the Internet‐of‐things (IoT). Since the power requirements for this purpose continue to decrease, IPV systems under low light may facilitate the realization of self‐powered high‐tech electronic devices connected through the IoT. This review discusses and compares the characteristics of different types of IPV devices such as those based on silicon, dye, III‐V semiconductors, organic compounds, and halide perovskites. Among them, specific attention is paid to perovskite photovoltaics which may potentially become a high performing IPV system due to the fascinating photophysics of the halide perovskite active layer. The limitations of such indoor application as they relate to the toxicity, stability, and electronic structure of halide perovskites are also discussed. Finally, strategies which could produce highly functional, nontoxic, and stable perovskite photovoltaics devices for indoor applications are proposed.     

Comparative genomics reveals different population structures associated with host and geographic origin in antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella enterica

Genetic variation in a pathogen, including the causative agent of salmonellosis, Salmonella enterica, can occur as a result of eco-evolutionary forces triggered by dissimilarities of ecological niches. Here, we applied comparative genomics to study 90 antimicrobial resistant (AMR) S. enterica isolates from bovine and human hosts in New York and Washington states to understand host- and geographic-associated population structure. Results revealed distinct presence/absence profiles of functional genes and pseudogenes (e.g., virulence genes) associated with bovine and human isolates. Notably, bovine isolates contained significantly more transposase genes but fewer transposase pseudogenes than human isolates, suggesting the occurrence of large-scale transposition in genomes of bovine and human isolates at different times. The high correlation between transposase genes and AMR genes, as well as plasmid replicons, highlights the potential role of horizontally transferred transposons in promoting adaptation to antibiotics. By contrast, a number of potentially geographic-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rather than geographic-associated genes, were identified. Interestingly, 38% of these SNPs were in genes annotated as cell surface protein-encoding genes, including some essential for antibiotic resistance and host colonization. Overall, different evolutionary forces and limited recent inter-population transmission appear to shape AMR S. enterica population structure in different hosts and geographic origins.     

耐盐碱促生菌的筛选及性能

盐分是影响作物生长最重要的因素,使用能促进植物生长的耐盐碱促生菌减轻盐胁迫引起的损害是一种农业上的有效方法。文中从盐碱地筛选得到7株耐盐细菌,并考察筛选菌株的产胞外聚合物(EPS)能力、降碱能力和产吲哚-3-乙酸(IAA)能力。经综合评价选出1株优势菌株DB01,菌株DB01产EPS能力为0.21 g/g,降碱能力为8.7%,产IAA的能力为8.97 mg/L。菌株经16S rRNA鉴定为海水盐单胞菌Halomonas aquamarina,并且有抑制香蕉枯萎病、番茄早疫病、大豆疫霉病、小麦纹枯病病原菌的能力,同时能够在盐胁迫下促进小麦幼苗的发芽率和根长。海水盐单胞菌Halomonas aquamarina DB01可为土壤微生物资源开发利用和盐碱地改良提供理论依据。     

全球中华鲎资源保护现状及对策建议

鲎是古老的海洋节肢动物。中华鲎(Tachypleus tridentatus)是世界现存4种鲎中体型最大的一种, 是河口生态系统的标志物种, 同时其血液被用于生产医用检验试剂――鲎试剂。中华鲎的自然地理分布范围相当狭窄, 仅局限于日本濑户内海向南延伸至印度尼西亚爪哇岛北岸以北的太平洋西岸海域, 其中在中国东岸和日本南部海域的历史产量较高。自20世纪50年代以来中华鲎种群数量出现了显著减少, 2019年中华鲎在IUCN红色名录中的濒危等级正式更新为濒危(EN), 明确了中华鲎资源呈现全球性衰退的状态, 究其原因可归纳为鲎生境破坏和过度捕捞两个方面。在开展鲎资源保护的实践工作中, 作者深刻反思当前鲎资源保护在海洋保护区划定、增殖放流及科普和野生动物保护法宣传中存在的问题并提出相应建议, 包括加快完善种群基线数据, 制定标准化种群和生境基线监测指南, 构建科学放流体系等, 以期推进全球范围内的中华鲎资源保护与科学管理。     

Energy–water and seasonal variations in climate underlie the spatial distribution patterns of gymnosperm species richness in China

Studying the pattern of species richness is crucial in understanding the diversity and distribution of organisms in the earth. Climate and human influences are the major driving factors that directly influence the large‐scale distributions of plant species, including gymnosperms. Understanding how gymnosperms respond to climate, topography, and human‐induced changes is useful in predicting the impacts of global change. Here, we attempt to evaluate how climatic and human‐induced processes could affect the spatial richness patterns of gymnosperms in China. Initially, we divided a map of the country into grid cells of 50 × 50 km² spatial resolution and plotted the geographical coordinate distribution occurrence of 236 native gymnosperm taxa. The gymnosperm taxa were separated into three response variables: (a) all species, (b) endemic species, and (c) nonendemic species, based on their distribution. The species richness patterns of these response variables to four predictor sets were also evaluated: (a) energy–water, (b) climatic seasonality, (c) habitat heterogeneity, and (d) human influences. We performed generalized linear models (GLMs) and variation partitioning analyses to determine the effect of predictors on spatial richness patterns. The results showed that the distribution pattern of species richness was highest in the southwestern mountainous area and Taiwan in China. We found a significant relationship between the predictor variable set and species richness pattern. Further, our findings provide evidence that climatic seasonality is the most important factor in explaining distinct fractions of variations in the species richness patterns of all studied response variables. Moreover, it was found that energy–water was the best predictor set to determine the richness pattern of all species and endemic species, while habitat heterogeneity has a better influence on nonendemic species. Therefore, we conclude that with the current climate fluctuations as a result of climate change and increasing human activities, gymnosperms might face a high risk of extinction.