Organic-inorganic hybrid halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been a trending topic in recent years. Significant progress has been made to increase their power conversion efficiency (PCE) to ...more than 20%. However, the poor stability of PSCs in both working and non-working conditions results in rapid degradation through multiple environmental erosions such as water, heat, and UV light. Attempts have been made to resolve the rapid-degradation problems, including formula changes, transport layer improvements, and encapsulations, but none of these have effectively resolved the dilemma. This paper reports our findings on adding inorganic films as surface-passivation layers on top of the hybrid perovskite materials, which not only enhance stability by eliminating weak sites but also prevent water penetration by using a water-stable layer. The surface-passivated hybrid perovskite layer indicates a slight increase of bandgap energy (Eg = 1.76 eV), compared to the original methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3, Eg = 1.61 eV) layer, allowing for more stable perovskite layer with a small sacrifice in the photoluminescence property, which represents a lower charge diffusion rate and higher bandgap energy. Our finding offers an alternative approach to resolving the low stability issue for PSC fabrication.
Rhododendron shanii W.P. Fang 1983 (Ericaceae) is woody plant naturally distributed in the southwest of Anhui, China. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of R. shanii was generated by ...whole-genome next-generation sequencing data and assembled based on three Rhododendron species chloroplast genome. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of R. shanii was 204,170 bp and divided into four distinct regions: small single-copy region (2615 bp), large single-copy region (107,189 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (47,183 bp). The genome annotation displayed 150 genes, including 95 protein-coding genes, 47 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis with the Ericaceae reported chloroplast genomes revealed that R. shanii is sister to the clade comprising R. delavayi, R. griersonianum and R. platypodum.
Organic solar cells (OSCs) have been under intensive studies, due to their attractive properties such as large scale, low cost, lightweight. However, their short lifetime, compared with the inorganic ...counterparts, has placed a severe restriction on the potential applications. To reveal the cause of the short life, here we report the finding of two distinguishable degradation mechanisms, from a typical organic/polymeric solar cell, based on polymer blend of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene):6,6-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester, fabricated on indium tin oxide-coated glass substrate. The first mode is associated with a localized failed area due to moisture encroachment, where the confronted areas are either completely dead or still 100% functioning. The second mode was found to be related to a mild decrease in power conversion efficiency (PCE) and was induced by a possible interfacial passivation occurred at the organic/cathode interface, due to the presence of residual oxygen, moisture and other impurities. The simulation results agree well with our experimental findings in showing that the degradation due to the localized moisture encroachment may be delayed by encapsulating the OSCs with desiccant. The degradation due to the interfacial passivation could be eliminated by the removal of low work function cathode at the sacrifice of PCE.
► Two distinguishable mechanisms of degradation in OSCs were identified. ► The initial degradation is due to the presence of residual oxygen and moisture. ► A dawdling degradation is due to the localized moisture encroachment. ► Photocurrent reduction was induced by the moisture encroachment.
Ultra-high-speed (UHS) surface-mounted permanent-magnet synchronous motors (SPMSMs) are widely used for driving air compressors. UHS SPMSMs can suffer from high stator iron loss and rotor eddy ...current loss due to their high rotational speed and changes in the magnetic flux density when loading. Since these losses do not have a linear trend but change according to the motor design parameters, mathematical models cannot always predict them. This study aims to design UHS SPMSMs based on a kriging surrogate model that takes into account the stator iron loss and rotor eddy current loss. Since the kriging surrogate model is highly predictive for nonlinear inputs, it is the perfect candidate to take into account the stator iron loss and rotor eddy current loss. The design proposed in this study allowed to minimize the size and losses of a motor that satisfied the power specification.
•Strictosamide alleviates acute lung injury.•Strictosamide regulating Th17/Treg cells and gut microbiota.•The close relationship between gut microbiota and immune function in acute lung injury model ...mice.
Nauclea officinalis (Pierre ex Pit.) Merr. & Chun (Rubiaceae) is widely used to treat respiratory diseases in China. Strictosamide is its main active component and has significant anti-inflammatory activity. However, the effects and molecular mechanisms of strictosamide in the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI) remain largely unknown.
This study aimed to examine the regulatory effects of strictosamide on T helper 17 cells (Th17 cells)/Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and gut microbiota in ALI-affected mice.
The ALI model was induced using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intraperitoneal injection. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, the number of inflammatory cells in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the Wet/Dry (W/D) ratio, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were utilized as evaluation indices for the therapeutic efficacy of strictosamide on ALI. Flow cytometry (FCM), enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blotting were used to determine the regulation of strictosamide on the Th17/Treg cells and the STAT3/STAT5 signaling pathway. The analysis of gut microbiota was conducted using 16S rDNA sequencing. The verification of the relationship between the gut microbiome and immune function was conducted using Spearman analysis.
Strictosamide attenuated inflammation on ALI induced by LPS, which reduced the levels of Th17-related factors interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-17 and increased Treg-related factors IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. In the spleens and whole blood, strictosamide reduced the proportion of Th17 cells and increased the proportion of Treg cells. Furthermore, strictosamide increased Forkhead/winged helix transcription factor 3 (Foxp3) and p-STAT5 protein expression while inhibiting Retinoid-related orphan nuclear receptors-γt (RORγt) and p-STAT3 expression. Moreover, strictosamide reshaped the diversity and structure of the gut microbiota, and influence the associations between immune parameters and gut microbiota in ALI mice.
In summary, the results of the current investigation showed that strictosamide has a therapeutic impact on LPS-induced ALI. The mechanism of action of this effect may be associated with the modulation of Th17 and Treg cells differentiation via the SATA signaling pathway, as well as the impact of the gut microbiota.
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Objective
The study aimed to investigate the involvement of astrocytes in the medullary dorsal horn (MDH) in the orofacial hyperalgesia induced by experimental tooth movement (ETM) and related ...mechanism.
Materials and Methods
Experimental tooth movement was produced with nickel‐titanium alloy closed‐coil spring fixed between the left maxillary first molar and the left upper incisor. Fluorocitrate was administrated through medullary subarachnoid at 3 days after ETM. Pressure pain threshold (PPT) in masseter cutaneous area was measured. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and c‐Fos in MDH was measured using immunofluoroscence staining. The expression of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and phosphorylated N‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor subunit NR1 (p‐NR1) was measured with Western blotting.
Results
Experimental tooth movement‐induced orofacial hyperalgesia from 1 to 9 days as the PPT was significantly reduced (P < .05). Immunofluoroscence staining showed that the expression of c‐Fos in MDH was dramatically upregulated at 1 day and 3 days after ETM, while GFAP expression with both immunofluoroscence staining and Western blotting was significantly enhanced at 3 days and 7 days after ETM. Western blotting analysis indicated that the expression of IL‐1β and p‐NR1 in MDH was significantly enhanced at 3 days after ETM. Furthermore, we found that fluorocitrate administration at 3 days after ETM could markedly suppress the expression of c‐Fos, GFAP, IL‐1β and p‐NR1 and attenuate the reduction of PPT induced by ETM.
Conclusion
Astrocyte activation in MDH is involved in the mechanical hyperalgesia, and the subsequent upregulated IL‐1β and overexpression of p‐NR1 may participate in this process.
Glucose is an ideal renewable fuel for fuel cells, because it is cheap, abundant in nature, and easy to produce. Conventional glucose fuel cells that use enzymes and microorganisms as the catalysts ...are limited by their extremely low power output and rather short durability. In the present work, a direct oxidation glucose fuel cell that uses an anion-exchange membrane and Ag/Ni foam electrodes is developed. The results show that this type of direct glucose fuel cell with a relatively cheap membrane and catalysts can produce a maximum power density of 2.03mW/cm2 at 80°C. The current density and power density of the fuel cell were remarkably increased using the preheating anolyte. The high performance of the fuel cell is mainly attributed to the increased kinetics of both the glucose oxidation reaction and oxygen reduction reaction, rendered by a better electrocatalytic activity of Ag/Ni foam and higher operating temperature, and the transformation of glucose to an enediol form.
Background. Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a common and severe complication in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Increased amount of circulatory small dense low-density lipoprotein ...cholesterol (sdLDL-C) particles is known to be a sign of dyslipidemia and can result in atherosclerosis. However, the association between serum sdLDL-C levels and CHD in T2DM patients remains unclear. Methods. A total of 3684 T2DM patients who received selective coronary angiography (CAG) were selected. For analyzing the association between sdLDL-C and CHD severity in T2DM, the patients with CHD were further divided into four subgroups according to the quartiles of sdLDL-C. A multivariate logistic regression was used for analyzing the risks and severity of CHD. A total of 3427 patients with continuous stable CHD were recruited and followed up for 5 years. Results. Serum sdLDL-C levels in the CHD group were significantly increased compared with those in the non-CHD group 0.80 (0.49) mmol/L vs. 0.70 (0.30) mmol/L, p<0.001. The results from CHD subgroup analysis indicated that the sdLDL-C levels in patients with multiple-vessel disease and high Gensini score (GS) were significantly increased. By adjusting the confounding factors and analyzing with multiple logistic regression, we found that sdLDL-C independently correlated with the presence and severity of CHD (CHD: OR=2.257; multiple-vessel disease: OR=3.288; high GS: OR=2.554). A total of 484 major cardiovascular events (MACEs) were documented. After Kaplan-Meier analysis and chi-squared analysis, the incidence of MACEs in the high sdLDL-C group was higher than that in the low sdLDL-C group (16.04% vs. 12.25%, p=0.002). Conclusion. In T2DM patients, elevated serum sdLDL-C may increase the severity of CHD and predict cardiovascular events in the future. Therefore, serum sdLDL-C may be a potential biomarker for the surveillance of CHD in T2DM patients.
As the ancient metal, Sn is widely used in all aspects of human life. Nowadays, S, as the vulcanizing agent, is used in the process of refining tin to separate Cu and Sn. However, there are few ...reports about the other agent of removing copper from stannum. In this study, SnS, a new sulfiding agent to separate Cu and Sn, was investigated. During the process, SnS replaces the combination of Sn and Cu. The variables considered in the experimental study were reaction temperature, time and the ratio of reactants. The experimental data indicated under certain conditions, the removal rate of Cu reach 94.3%. At last, we studied the vacuum reaction of Cu2S and Sn, results indicated that under appropriate conditions, the Cu is detected. The SnS is formed. And after the vacuum reaction, the SnS could be used recycling. This work presented a promising technology for separating Cu from tin.
Network embedding is a technique used to generate low-dimensional vectors representing each node in a network while maintaining the original topology and properties of the network. This technology ...enables a wide range of learning tasks, including node classification and link prediction. However, the current landscape of network embedding approaches predominantly revolves around static networks, neglecting the dynamic nature that characterizes real social networks. Dynamics at both the micro- and macrolevels are fundamental drivers of network evolution. Microlevel dynamics provide a detailed account of the network topology formation process, while macrolevel dynamics reveal the evolutionary trends of the network. Despite recent dynamic network embedding efforts, a few approaches accurately capture the evolution patterns of nodes at the microlevel or effectively preserve the crucial dynamics of both layers. Our study introduces a novel method for embedding networks, i.e., bilayer evolutionary pattern-preserving embedding for dynamic networks (Bi-DNE), that preserves the evolutionary patterns at both the micro- and macrolevels. The model utilizes strengthened triadic closure to represent the network structure formation process at the microlevel, while a dynamic equation constrains the network structure to adhere to the densification power-law evolution pattern at the macrolevel. The proposed Bi-DNE model exhibits significant performance improvements across a range of tasks, including link prediction, reconstruction, and temporal link analysis. These improvements are demonstrated through comprehensive experiments carried out on both simulated and real-world dynamic network datasets. The consistently superior results to those of the state-of-the-art methods provide empirical evidence for the effectiveness of Bi-DNE in capturing complex evolutionary patterns and learning high-quality node representations. These findings validate the methodological innovations presented in this work and mark valuable progress in the emerging field of dynamic network representation learning. Further exploration demonstrates that Bi-DNE is sensitive to the analysis task parameters, leading to a more accurate representation of the natural evolution process during dynamic network embedding.
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