High‐Voltage‐Driven Surface Structuring and Electrochemical Stabilization of Ni‐Rich Layered Cathode Materials for Li Rechargeable Batteries

Layered lithium–nickel–cobalt–manganese oxide (NCM) materials have emerged as promising alternative cathode materials owing to their high energy density and electrochemical stability. Although high reversible capacity has been achieved for Ni‐rich NCM materials when charged beyond 4.2 V versus Li⁺/Li, full lithium utilization is hindered by the pronounced structural degradation and electrolyte decomposition. Herein, the unexpected realization of sustained working voltage as well as improved electrochemical performance upon electrochemical cycling at a high operating voltage of 4.9 V in the Ni‐rich NCM LiNi_0.895Co_0.085Mn_0.02O₂ is presented. The improved electrochemical performance at a high working voltage at 4.9 V is attributed to the removal of the resistive Ni²⁺O rock‐salt surface layer, which stabilizes the voltage profile and improves retention of the energy density during electrochemical cycling. The manifestation of the layered Ni²⁺O rock‐salt phase along with the structural evolution related to the metal dissolution are probed using in situ X‐ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy. The findings help unravel the structural complexities associated with high working voltages and offer insight for the design of advanced battery materials, enabling the realization of fully reversible lithium extraction in Ni‐rich NCM materials.     

Convergent Synthesis of the Rat Galanin and Study of Its Biological Activity

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - The full-length rat galanin (GWTLNSAGYLLGPHAIDNHRSFSDKHGLT-NH2, G29) was prepared by the solid phase peptide synthesis using the Fmoc-strategy. The peptide...     

Jumping gene gs of Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karsten ex Farw

Studies on tomato culture revealed for the first time two phenomena: (1) instability of gene gs (green stripes on fruits) and (2) spontaneous expression of the character determined by the gs gene without involvement of sexual reproduction in some cultivars. The instability of the gs gene was detected by the phenotypic expression of character in different plants from the same strain, racemes of the same plant, fruits of the same raceme, and parts of the same fruit. The instability of the gs gene may be determined by endogenous regulatory genetic elements causing specific changes of the character, with the degree of these changes varying for different parts of the fruit and places of its formation on the plant. The instability of the gs gene was expressed for four generations. There were no other phenotypic changes in the offsprings studied. In addition, migration of the recessive gs gene to other cultivars followed by its complete expression in a whole plant or some parts of the plant was observed. Exogenous transfer of the gs gene is suggested.     

An overview of malaria transmission from the perspective of Amazon Anopheles vectors

In the Americas, areas with a high risk of malaria transmission are mainly located in the Amazon Forest, which extends across nine countries. One keystone step to understanding the Plasmodium life cycle in Anopheles species from the Amazon Region is to obtain experimentally infected mosquito vectors. Several attempts to colonise Ano- pheles species have been conducted, but with only short-lived success or no success at all. In this review, we review the literature on malaria transmission from the perspective of its Amazon vectors. Currently, it is possible to develop experimental Plasmodium vivax infection of the colonised and field-captured vectors in laboratories located close to Amazonian endemic areas. We are also reviewing studies related to the immune response to P. vivax infection of Anopheles aquasalis, a coastal mosquito species. Finally, we discuss the importance of the modulation of Plasmodium infection by the vector microbiota and also consider the anopheline genomes. The establishment of experimental mosquito infections with Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium yoelii and Plasmodium berghei parasites that could provide interesting models for studying malaria in the Amazonian scenario is important. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of the parasites in New World vectors is crucial in order to better determine the interaction process and vectorial competence.     

Structure based virtual screening of ligands to identify cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 antagonist

Montelukast and Zafirlukast are known leukotriene receptor antagonists prescribed in asthma treatment. However, these fall short as mono therapy and are frequently used in combination with inhaled glucocorticosteroids with or without long acting beta 2 agonists. Therefore, it is of interest to apply ligand and structure based virtual screening strategies to identify compounds akin to lead compounds Montelukast and Zafirlukast. Hence, compounds with structures having 95% similarity to these compounds were retrieved from NCBI׳s PubChem database. Compounds similar to lead were grouped and docked at the antagonist binding site of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1. This exercise identified compounds UNII 70RV86E50Q (Pub Cid 71587778) and Sure CN 9587085 (Pub Cid 19793614) with higher predicted binding compared to Montelukast and Zafirlukast. It is shown that the compound Sure CN 9587085 showed appreciable ligand receptor interaction compared to UNII 70RV86E50Q. Thus, the compound Sure CN 9587085 is selected as a potent antagonist to cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 for further consideration in vitro and in vivo validation.     

Biomass,production and activity of bacteria in the Black Sea,with special reference to chemosynthesis and the sulfur cycle

Abundance, morphological composition, vertical distribution, production and activity of total bacterioplankton and its specific groups in the Black Sea were investigated in August–September 1989. The total bacterioplankton was highest in the upper mixed layer (0.7–1 × 10⁶ cells ml^–1), corresponding to that in mesotrophic basins. In the N-E shallow part of the sea it attained 3 × 10⁶. Below the thermocline (50–100 m) the total number of bacteria decreased to 0.2–0.4 × 10⁶ ml^–1. In the redox gradient zone (zone of O₂-H₂S interface), it increased again. In deep anoxic waters the bacterioplankton, numbering 0.15–0.2 × 10⁶ ml^–1, was functionally inactive. Its biomass was 12–40 mg C m^–3 in the upper mixed layer, 5–10 mg C m^–3 in the intermediate cold layer (40–100 m depth), and 10–20 mg C^–3 in the redox zone. Maximum production rates occurred in the upper mixed layer (8–20 mg C^–3 d^–1) and in the redox-zone, 80–90% of it was due to chemosynthesis of thiobacilli. Below 200 m, microbial production decreased to about zero in the anoxic zone. Maximum activity of heterotrophic bacteria was recorded in the upper mixed layer, while thiobacilli and methaneoxidezing bacteria were most active in the redox-zone. Here, the maximum rates of H₂S and of thiosulfate oxidation, as well as maximum sulfate reduction were recorded. Chemical oxidation of H₂S was dominant. These results are discussed with respect to the present ecological situation of the Black Sea.     

Optimal Method for Disulfide Bond Closure in the Synthesis of Atosiban—Antagonist of Oxytocin Receptors

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - This work is devoted to the large-scale solid-phase synthesis (SPS) of Atosiban, Mpa1-D-Tyr(OEt)-Ile-Thr-Asn-Cys6-Pro-Orn-Gly-NH2 cyclic 1,6 disulfide, the...