High Thermoelectric Performance in p‐type Polycrystalline Cd‐doped SnSe Achieved by a Combination of Cation Vacancies and Localized Lattice Engineering

Herein, a high figure of merit (ZT) of ≈1.7 at 823 K is reported in p‐type polycrystalline Cd‐doped SnSe by combining cation vacancies and localized‐lattice engineering. It is observed that the introduction of Cd atoms in SnSe lattice induce Sn vacancies, which act as p‐type dopants. A combination of facile solvothermal synthesis and fast spark plasma sintering technique boosts the Sn vacancy to a high level of ≈2.9%, which results in an optimum hole concentration of ≈2.6 × 10¹⁹ cm^?3 and an improved power factor of ≈6.9 µW cm^?1 K^?2. Simultaneously, a low thermal conductivity of ≈0.33 W m^?1 K^?1 is achieved by effective phonon scattering at localized crystal imperfections, as observed by detailed structural characterizations. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the role of Cd atoms in the SnSe lattice is to reduce the formation energy of Sn vacancies, which in turn lower the Fermi level down into the valence bands, generating holes. This work explores the fundamental Cd‐doping mechanisms at the nanoscale in a SnSe matrix and demonstrates vacancy and localized‐lattice engineering as an effective approach to boosting thermoelectric performance. The work provides an avenue in achieving high‐performance thermoelectric properties of materials.     

Prophylactic and Therapeutic Efficacy of Avian Antibodies Against Influenza Virus H5N1 and H1N1 in Mice

Background

Pandemic influenza poses a serious threat to global health and the world economy. While vaccines are currently under development, passive immunization could offer an alternative strategy to prevent and treat influenza virus infection. Attempts to develop monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been made. However, passive immunization based on mAbs may require a cocktail of mAbs with broader specificity in order to provide full protection since mAbs are generally specific for single epitopes. Chicken immunoglobulins (IgY) found in egg yolk have been used mainly for treatment of infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Because the recent epidemic of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) strain H5N1 has resulted in serious economic losses to the poultry industry, many countries including Vietnam have introduced mass vaccination of poultry with H5N1 virus vaccines. We reasoned that IgY from consumable eggs available in supermarkets in Vietnam could provide protection against infections with HPAIV H5N1.

Methods and Findings

We found that H5N1-specific IgY that are prepared from eggs available in supermarkets in Vietnam by a rapid and simple water dilution method cross-protect against infections with HPAIV H5N1 and related H5N2 strains in mice. When administered intranasally before or after lethal infection, the IgY prevent the infection or significantly reduce viral replication resulting in complete recovery from the disease, respectively. We further generated H1N1 virus-specific IgY by immunization of hens with inactivated H1N1 A/PR/8/34 as a model virus for the current pandemic H1N1/09 and found that such H1N1-specific IgY protect mice from lethal influenza virus infection.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that readily available H5N1-specific IgY offer an enormous source of valuable biological material to combat a potential H5N1 pandemic. In addition, our study provides a proof-of-concept for the approach using virus-specific IgY as affordable, safe, and effective alternative for the control of influenza outbreaks, including the current H1N1 pandemic.     

Intermediate fertile Triticum aestivum （＋）Agropyron elongatum somatic hybrids are generated by low doses of UV irradiation

We report the production and characterization of somatic hybrids between Triticum aestivum L. and Agropyron elongatum (Host) Nevishi (the synonym is Thinopyrum ponticum). Asymmetric protoplast fusion was performed between Agropyron elongatum protoplasts irradiated with a low UV dose and protoplasts of wheat taken from nonregenerable suspension cultures. More than 40 green plantlets were obtained from 15 regenerated clones and one of them produced seeds. The phenotypes of the hybrid plants and seeds were intermediate between wheat and Agropyron elongatum. All of the regenerated calli and plants were verified as intergeneric hybrids on the basis of morphological observation and analysis of isozyme, cytological, 5SrDNA spacer sequences and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). RFLP analysis of the mitochondrial genome revealed evidence of random segregation and recombination of mtDNA.     

赭曲霉转化洋地黄毒苷的工艺优化和产物活性分析

以赭曲霉Rn405转化洋地黄毒苷的微生物转化工艺为研究对象,对助溶剂种类、底物浓度、金属离子种类和浓度等关键参数进行优化,确定的最优转化条件为:发酵培养基中添加1 mmol/L Mn2+离子,28℃,180 rpm振荡培养28 h时加入溶解于DMSO的底物溶液,使其终浓度为100 mg/L,然后在相同的条件下转化96 h。此时,底物的转化率和11α-羟基洋地黄毒苷元的生成率分别达到了100%和25.4%,比优化前分别提高了33.1%和14.5%。通过斯氏灌流法和Langendorff灌流法,探讨两个转化产物对蟾蜍和大鼠心肌细胞收缩能力的影响。结果表明,洋地黄毒苷元对心肌细胞收缩率的影响和底物洋地黄毒苷相当,而11α-羟基洋地黄毒苷元对心肌细胞收缩率的影响比底物洋地黄毒苷和洋地黄毒苷元均有所增强。     

Rescue of ΔF508-CFTR trafficking via a GRASP-dependent unconventional secretion pathway

The most prevalent disease-causing mutation of CFTR is the deletion of Phe508 (ΔF508), which leads to defects in conventional Golgi-mediated exocytosis and cell surface expression. We report that ΔF508-CFTR surface expression can be rescued in vitro and in vivo by directing it to an unconventional GRASP-dependent secretion pathway. An integrated molecular and physiological analysis indicates that mechanisms associated with ER stress induce cell surface trafficking of the ER core-glycosylated wild-type and ΔF508-CFTR via the GRASP-dependent pathway. Phosphorylation of a specific site of GRASP and the PDZ-based interaction between GRASP and CFTR are critical for this unconventional surface trafficking. Remarkably, transgenic expression of GRASP in ΔF508-CFTR mice restores CFTR function and rescues mouse survival without apparent toxicity. These findings provide insight into how unconventional protein secretion is activated, and offer a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cystic fibrosis and perhaps diseases stemming from other misfolded proteins.     

The genus Andraca (Lepidoptera, Endromidae) in China with descriptions of a new species

The six species of the genus Andraca Walker hitherto known from China are reviewed, and a new species, Andraca gongshanensis, sp. n., described from Yunnan Province, China. Adults and male genitalia of all examined species are illustrated, together with a distributional map. A key to all seven Chinese Andraca species is provided. The types of the new species are deposited in SCAU (South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China) and HUNAU (Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China).     

双波长分光光度法测定肝素钠效价

本文介绍了在室温条件下,以天青作显色剂,用双波长分光光度法测定肝素钠的效价。本法快速准确,测定浓度0—20u/ml,相对误差在±4％以内,标准偏差0.19,变异系数2.5‰,与羊血浆法测定结果相差±4u/ml以内。     

顽拗植物龙眼基因组DNA提取方法的研究

为从顽拗植物龙眼(Dimocarpus longan Lour.)叶片中获得可供后续分子生物学操作的基因组DNA．针对其组织细胞内富含多酚、多糖、单宁及色素等物质的特点,采用改进的CTAB法和SDS法,即在核裂解之前先破碎细胞．将存在于细胞质中的次生物质去除后再裂解细胞桉．结合其它一些改进措施．提取到的DNA沉淀呈纯白色．极易溶解于TE中。两种改进方法的OD260和OD280比值分别达到1.82和1．73,其鲜叶基因组DNA产量分别为103ug/g和127ug／g：RAPD扩增条带清晰,丰富．完全满足后续分子生物学操作的要求,其中改良CTAB方法效果更为理想,与之埘比．传统的CTAB法和SDS法提取到的DNA沉淀呈浅黄色甚至红褐色,很难被TE溶解,其OD260和OD280比值均低于1．5,也得不到扩增产物。