Inorganic cesium lead halide perovskites, as alternative light absorbers for organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells, have attracted more and more attention due to their superb thermal ...stability for photovoltaic applications. However, the humid air instability of CsPbI2Br perovskite solar cells (PSCs) hinders their further development. The optoelectronic properties of CsPbI2Br films are closely related to the quality of films, so preparing high-quality perovskite films is crucial for fabricating high-performance PSCs. For the first time, we demonstrate that the regulation of ambient temperature of the dry air in the glovebox is able to control the growth of CsPbI2Br crystals and further optimize the morphology of CsPbI2Br film. Through controlling the ambient air temperature assisted crystallization, high-quality CsPbI2Br films are obtained, with advantages such as larger crystalline grains, negligible crystal boundaries, absence of pinholes, lower defect density, and faster carrier mobility. Accordingly, the PSCs based on as-prepared CsPbI2Br film achieve a power conversion efficiency of 15.5% (the maximum stabilized power output of 15.02%). Moreover, the optimized CsPbI2Br films show excellent robustness against moisture and oxygen and maintain the photovoltaic dark phase after 3 h aging in an air atmosphere at room temperature and 35% relative humidity (R.H.). In comparison, the pristine films are completely converted to the yellow phase in 1.5 h.
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•646 Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from 7 different environment settings.•Antibiotic resistance, β-lactamase genes and integrons were detected in isolates.•The integron related ARG ...cassettes and DNA methylation levels were investigated.•Higher diversity of β-lactamase genes and ARG cassettes were from hospital source.•The multiple antibiotic resistance index was positively correlated with the 5mC.
Antibiotic resistant bacteria with diverse resistance phenotypes and genotypes are ubiquitous in the environments that have become a global health concern. The role of DNA methylation in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance among different environments is currently unclear. We recovered 646 Enterobacteriaceae (Eb) isolates from hospital, livestock manure, municipal wastewater-treatment plants, river sediment and soil for comprehensive analysis of resistance phenotypes, β-lactamase genes, integrons, integron-associated gene cassettes and the levels of DNA methylation. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that approximately 87.31 % isolates were multidrug resistant Eb. The β-lactamase genes were positively detected in 473 isolates with greater diversity in human or animal sourced Eb, while its prevalence was found to be highest in the Eb isolates from the natural environments. Forty-three gene cassettes (28 different types mediated by intI1) were detected in 53 (19.63 %) isolates, with greater diversity in Eb isolates from hospital and livestock manure. The multiple antibiotic resistance index of single strain was positively correlated with the 5-methylcytosine and showed a negative correlation with 6-methylademine. We conclude that the development of antibiotic resistance could possibly be coupled with DNA methylation, which might enhance the antimicrobial resistance and survival capacity of Eb.
Methyl gallate (MG) is a polyphenolic compound widely found in natural plants. MG has been shown to have a variety of biological functions, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, ...neuroprotective, hepatoprotective and anti-microbial activities, and has broad research and development prospects. A total of 88 articles related to MG were searched using the PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases, systematically investigating the pharmacological activity and molecular mechanisms of MG. There were no restrictions on the publication years, and the last search was conducted on June 5, 2023. MG can exert pharmacological effects through multiple pathways and targets, such as PI3K/Akt, ERK1/2, Caspase, AMPK/NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, TLR4/NF-κB, MAPK, p53, NLRP3, ROS, EMT. According to the literature, MG has the potential to be a prospective adjuvant for anticancer therapy and deserves further study.
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•MG exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects.•MG exerts its anti-tumor effects through inducing cell apoptosis, inhibiting EMT, and modulating immune cells.•MG can also synergistically interact with other clinical drugs to exert pharmacological effects and reduce drug toxicity.
Analysis of the changes of microorganisms during Chinese Feng-flavor Daqu fermentation, and the specific contribution of different environmental factors to Daqu microorganisms. High throughput ...sequencing technology and SourceTracker software were used to analyze the microbial diversity of Feng-flavor Daqu before and after fermentation. 85 fungal and 105 bacterial were detected in the newly pressed Feng-flavor Daqu, while 33 fungal and 50 bacterial in the mature Daqu, and 202 fungal and 555 bacterial in the environmental samples. After fermentation, the microbial community structure of Daqu changed and decreased significantly. 94.7% of fungi come from raw materials and 1.8% from outdoor ground, 60.95% of bacteria come from indoor ground, 20.44% from raw materials, and 8.98% from tools. By comparing the changes of microorganisms in Daqu before and after fermentation, the microorganisms in mature Daqu may mainly come from not only the enhanced strains but also the environment.The source of main microorganisms in Feng-flavor Daqu and the influence of environmental factors on the quality of Daqu were clarified, which provided a basis for improving the quality of Feng-flavor Daqu.
Excessive nitrogen (N) input and irrigation exacerbate N leaching in winter wheat production in the North China Plain (NCP). To explore the optimal N for better N remobilization and higher N ...utilization of wheat under water-saving irrigation will be conductive to less environmental contamination. A field experiment was conducted at 300 (N
), 240 (N
), 180 (N
), and 0 (N
) kg N ha
of N application under supplemental irrigation (SI) that brought the relative soil water content (RSWC) to 70% at jointing and 65% at anthesis. Compared with N
, N
improved the free amino acid content in the flag leaf and grain after anthesis, dry matter and plant N accumulation at maturity, N translocation amount of vegetable organs and its contribution to grain from anthesis to maturity. Compared to N
and N
, N
increased the N translocation efficiency of vegetable organs, and reduced the soil NO
-N residue in the 60-180 cm soil layer, which contributing to no significant reduction in grain yield and grain protein yield, but higher grain N recovery efficiency (
RE
), N recovery efficiency (RE
), and N partial factor productivity (PFP
). Positive relationships were found between leaf N translocation efficiency and grain yield, grain protein yield, PFP
,
RE
, and RE
. Therefore, N
is appropriate to obtain a steady grain yield over 7.5 t ha
for at least 2 years under SI based on RSWC in the NCP.
Microplastics (MPs) are a ubiquitous pollutant detected not only in marine and freshwater bodies, but also in tap and bottled water worldwide. While MPs have been extensively studied, the toxicity of ...their smaller counterpart, nanoplastics (NPs), is not well documented. Despite likely large-scale human and animal exposure to NPs, the associated health risks remain unclear, especially during early developmental stages. To address this, we investigated the health impacts of exposures to both 50 and 200 nm polystyrene NPs in larval zebrafish. From 6 to 120 h post-fertilization (hpf), developing zebrafish were exposed to a range of fluorescent NPs (10-10,000 parts per billion). Dose-dependent increases in accumulation were identified in exposed larval fish, potentially coinciding with an altered behavioral response as evidenced through swimming hyperactivity. Notably, exposures did not impact mortality, hatching rate, or deformities; however, transcriptomic analysis suggests neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction at both high and low concentrations. Furthermore, results of this study suggest that NPs can accumulate in the tissues of larval zebrafish, alter their transcriptome, and affect behavior and physiology, potentially decreasing organismal fitness in contaminated ecosystems. The uniquely broad scale of this study during a critical window of development provides crucial multidimensional characterization of NP impacts on human and animal health.
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•Health impacts of exposures to both 50 and 200 nm polystyrene nanoplastics in larval zebrafish were investigated.•Dose-dependent increases in plastic accumulation were identified, as measured by whole body fluorescence.•Altered behavioral response was evidenced by swimming hyperactivity.•Transcriptomic analysis suggests neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction at both high and low concentrations.
The results of this study suggest that NPs can accumulate in the tissues of larval zebrafish, alter their transcriptome, and affect behavior and physiology, potentially decreasing organismal fitness in contaminated ecosystems.
Scholars have proposed the practice of split nitrogen fertilizer application (SNFA), which has proven to be an effective approach for enhancing nitrogen use efficiency. However, the combined effects ...of SNFA on wheat plant nitrogen use efficiency, ammonia (NH
) emission flux, as well as the rates of nitrification and denitrification in different ecosystems remain unclear. Meanwhile, few studies have sought to understand the effects of the split nitrogen fertilizer method under water-saving irrigation technology conditions on nitrogen loss. The current study assessed soil NH
volatilization, nitrification, and denitrification intensities, as well as the abundance of nitrogen cycle-related functional genes following application of different treatments. Specifically, we applied a nitrogen rate of 240 kg⋅ha
, and the following fertilizer ratios of the percent base to that of topdressing under water-saving irrigation: N1 (basal/dressing, 100/0%), N2 (basal/dressing, 70/30%), N3 (basal/dressing, 50/50%), N4 (basal/dressing, 30/70%), and N5 (basal/dressing, 0/100%). N3 treatment significantly reduced NH
volatilization, nitrification, and denitrification intensities, primarily owing to the reduced reaction substrate concentration (NO
and NH
) and abundance of functional genes involved in the nitrogen cycle (
AOB,
, and
) within the wheat-land soil.
N tracer studies further demonstrated that N3 treatments significantly increased the grain nitrogen accumulation by 9.50-28.27% compared with that under other treatments. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the amount of nitrogen absorbed by wheat from soil and fertilizers, which was caused by an enhancement in total nitrogen uptake (7.2-21.81%). Overall, N3 treatment (basal/dressing, 50/50%) was found to effectively reduce nitrogen loss through NH
volatilization, nitrification and denitrification while improving nitrogen uptake by wheat. Thus, its application will serve to further maximize the yield and provide a fertilization practice that will facilitate cleaner wheat production in the North China Plain.
Background/Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy and is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Luteolin, a flavonoid from traditional Chinese ...medicine, shows anti-cancer activity in many cancer cells, including HCC. However, the mechanism underlying the action of luteolin in HCC, especially its role in regulating cell autophagy, remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of luteolin in regulating cell autophagy and the role of autophagy in luteolin-induced apoptosis. Methods: The 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay (MTT) was used to investigate cell viability. Flow cytometry analysis was used to detect the cell cycle and cell apoptosis. Hoechst 33342 staining was used to detect cell apoptosis. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate autophagy. qRT-PCR and western blotting were used to detect apoptosis- and autophagy-related mRNAs and proteins. Results: Luteolin reduced the viability of SMMC-7721 cells in a time and dose-dependent manner, and induced significant G0/G1-phase arrest. In addition, the results of flow cytometry analysis and Hoechst 33342 staining showed that luteolin treatment increased the number of apoptotic cells obviously, and the results of qRT-PCR and western blotting showed that luteolin treatment increased caspase 8 and decreased bcl-2 at the mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, luteolin increased the number of intracellular autophagosomes, promoted LC3B-I conversion to LC3B-II, and increased Beclin 1 expression. Finally, co-treatment with the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine weakened the effects of luteolin on cell apoptosis. Conclusion: Luteolin induced apoptosis in human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells, partially via autophagy. Thus, luteolin could be used as a regulator of autophagy in HCC treatment.
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