Dual Interfacial Modifications by a Natural Organic Acid Enable High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells with Lead Shielding.

Effective interfacial modification of the perovskite layer is a feasible approach to improve the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, we introduce a dual interfacial modification approach utilizing a natural organic acid, citric acid (CA), to enhance both interfaces adjacent to the crucial perovskite layer within the PSC structure. First, a CA thin layer is deposited on the top of a SnO electron transport layer to mitigate the corrosive effects of alkaline impurities in SnO on the perovskite film and to control the crystal growth of the perovskite.

Melatonin decreases excessive polyspermy for single oocyte in pigs through the MT2 receptor.

Melatonin supplementation during in vitro maturation (IVM) improves porcine oocyte maturation and embryonic development by exerting antioxidative effects. Nevertheless, the mechanism by which melatonin prevents polyspermy after in vitro fertilization (IVF) remains unclear. Here, we examined the effects of melatonin on cytoplasmic maturation and the incidence of polyspermic penetration in porcine oocytes.

A high cholesterol diet aggravates experimental colitis through SREBP2-modulated endocytosis and degradation of occludin and Zo-1 proteins.

Disrupted cholesterol homeostasis plays a critical role in the development of multiple diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, the role of cholesterol in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether and how high levels of cholesterol in the diet affect experimental colitis in mice.

Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals the potential mechanism of GA-induced dormancy release in black seeds.

Bunge produces dimorphic seeds on the same plant, with brown seeds displaying non-dormant characteristics and black seeds exhibiting intermediate physiological dormancy traits. Previous studies have shown that black seeds have a very low germination rate under natural conditions, but exogenous GA effectively enhanced the germination rate of black seeds. However, the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of GA on black seeds are still unclear.

Silicon induces ROS scavengers, hormone signalling, antifungal metabolites, and silicon deposition against brown stripe disease in sugarcane.

Bipolaris setariae is known to cause brown stripe disease in sugarcane, resulting in significant yield losses. Silicon (Si) has the potential to enhance plant growth and biotic resistance. In this study, the impact of Si on brown stripe disease was investigated across susceptible and resistant sugarcane varieties, utilizing four Si concentrations (0, 15, 30, and 45 g per barrel of NaSiO·5HO).

Cu-Modified Palladium Catalysts: Boosting Formate Electrooxidation via Interfacially OH-Driven H Removal.

Direct formate fuel cells have gained traction due to their eco-friendly credentials and inherent safety. However, their potential is hampered by the kinetic challenges of the formate oxidation reaction (FOR) on Pd-based catalysts, chiefly due to the unfavorable adsorption of hydrogen species (H). These species clog the active sites, hindering efficient catalysis.

sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from rhizosphere of (Bunge) Freitag & Schütze.

Light yellowish-white colonies of a bacterial strain, designated LNNU 24178, were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of halophyte (Bunge) Freitag and Schütze grown at Shihezi district, Xinjiang, PR China. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellum-forming, rod-shaped and non-motile. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that LNNU 24178 represented a member of the genus and shared the highest sequence similarity with CGMCC 1.

BAP1 promotes osteoclast function by metabolic reprogramming.

Treatment of osteoporosis commonly diminishes osteoclast number which suppresses bone formation thus compromising fracture prevention. Bone formation is not suppressed, however, when bone degradation is reduced by retarding osteoclast functional resorptive capacity, rather than differentiation. We find deletion of deubiquitinase, BRCA1-associated protein 1 (Bap1), in myeloid cells (Bap1), arrests osteoclast function but not formation.

Ultrasonic treatment alleviated cadmium stress in sugarcane via improving antioxidant activity and physiological and biochemical status.

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic element that endangers crop growth and affects food safety and human health. Therefore, the study of Cd mitigation technology is important. Ultrasonic treatment can improve crop growth and enhance their ability to resist various abiotic stresses.

Modulating the Interfacial Water Network of Dual-Site Pd/FeO/C Catalyst for Efficient Formate Electrooxidation.

The rational design of electrocatalysts for formate oxidation reaction (FOR) in alkaline media is crucial to promote the practical applications of direct formate fuel cells (DFFCs). The FOR kinetic on palladium (Pd) based electrocatalysts is strongly hindered by unfavorably adsorbed hydrogen (H) as the major intermediate species blocking the active sites. Herein, we report a strategy of modulating the interfacial water network of dual-site Pd/FeO/C catalyst to significantly enhance the desorption kinetics of H during FOR.

Effect of environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of Viola prionantha, a cleistogamous plant.

Environmental conditions during seed development and maturation can affect seed traits and germination behavior, yet systematic research on the effects of seed maturation time on seed traits, germination behavior and seedling emergence of cleistogamy plants is lacking. Here, we determined the difference in phenotypic characteristics of CH and CL (namely CL1, CL2 and CL3 based on maturation time, respectively) fruits/seeds that were collected from Viola prionantha Bunge, a cleistogamous perennial plant, and evaluated the effects of various environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence. The fruit mass, width, seed number per fruit and mean seed mass of CL1 and CL3 were greater than that of CH and CL2, while seed setting of CH was lower than that of CL1, CL2 and CL3.

Internal Electric Field Induced by Superexchange Interaction on Mn -O -Ni Unit Enables Highly Efficient Hybrid Capacitive Deionization.

Internal electric field (IEF) construction is an innovative strategy to regulate the electronic structure of electrode materials to promote charge transfer processes. Despite the wide use of IEF in various applications, the underlying mechanism of its formation in an asymmetric TM-O-TM unit still remains poorly understood. Herein, the essential principles for the IEF construction at electron occupancy state level and explore its effect on hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI) performance is systematically investigated.

Regulation of the Work Function Difference Promotes In Situ Phase Transition of WO for Efficient Formate Electrooxidation.

Direct formate fuel cells (DFFCs) have drawn tremendous attention because they are environmentally benign and have good safety. However, the lack of advanced catalysts for formate electrooxidation hinders the development and applications of DFFCs. Herein, we report a strategy of regulating the metal-substrate work function difference to effectively promote the transfer of adsorbed hydrogen (H), thus enhancing formate electrooxidation in alkaline solutions.

ThPOK Inhibits Osteoclast Formation Via NFATc1 Transcription and Function.

Both LRF () and ThPOK () belong to the POK (BTB/POZ and Kruppel) family of transcription repressors that participate in development, differentiation, and oncogenesis. Although LRF mediates osteoclast differentiation by regulating NFATc1 expression, the principal established function of ThPOK is transcriptional control of T-cell lineage commitment. Whether ThPOK affects osteoclast formation or function is not known.

Experimental Investigation on the Influencing Factors of Compressive Strength of Foamed Lightweight Material Utilizing Completely Decomposed Granite.

The utilization of construction waste soil to produce foamed concrete together with cement and a foaming agent is a promising method for waste recycling. Completely decomposed granite (CDG), which is widely available in southern China, was selected as a typical construction waste soil in foamed material production. The Taguchi method was applied to study the influence of various parameters on compressive strength, including cement dosage, CDG dosage, water to solid materials ratio (W/M), fine particles content, and gravel particles content.

Enhanced Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Formate via Introducing Surface Reactive Oxygen Species to a CeO Substrate.

Direct formate fuel cells (DFFCs) as promising energy technologies have been applied for portable and wearable devices. However, for the formate oxidation reaction (FOR), the deficiency of catalysts has prevented DFFCs from practical applications. Herein, we prepared a Pd-loaded CeO catalyst through a simple steam treatment at 400 °C to enhance the catalytic FOR performance.

Intercellular Mitochondria Transfer to Macrophages Regulates White Adipose Tissue Homeostasis and Is Impaired in Obesity.

Recent studies suggest that mitochondria can be transferred between cells to support the survival of metabolically compromised cells. However, whether intercellular mitochondria transfer occurs in white adipose tissue (WAT) or regulates metabolic homeostasis in vivo remains unknown. We found that macrophages acquire mitochondria from neighboring adipocytes in vivo and that this process defines a transcriptionally distinct macrophage subpopulation.

Ablation of Fat Cells in Adult Mice Induces Massive Bone Gain.

Adipocytes control bone mass, but the mechanism is unclear. To explore the effect of postnatal adipocyte elimination on bone cells, we mated mice expressing an inducible primate diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR) to those bearing adiponectin (ADQ)-Cre. DTR activation eliminates peripheral and marrow adipocytes in these DTR mice.

Hepatic lipids promote liver metastasis.

Obesity predisposes to cancer and a virtual universality of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the impact of hepatic steatosis on liver metastasis is enigmatic. We find that while control mice were relatively resistant to hepatic metastasis, those which were lipodystrophic or obese, with NAFLD, had a dramatic increase in breast cancer and melanoma liver metastases.

Myeloid-specific Asxl2 deletion limits diet-induced obesity by regulating energy expenditure.

We previously established that global deletion of the enhancer of trithorax and polycomb (ETP) gene, Asxl2, prevents weight gain. Because proinflammatory macrophages recruited to adipose tissue are central to the metabolic complications of obesity, we explored the role of ASXL2 in myeloid lineage cells. Unexpectedly, mice without Asxl2 only in myeloid cells (Asxl2ΔLysM) were completely resistant to diet-induced weight gain and metabolically normal despite increased food intake, comparable activity, and equivalent fecal fat.

Fat-Produced Adipsin Regulates Inflammatory Arthritis.

We explored the relationship of obesity and inflammatory arthritis (IA) by selectively expressing diphtheria toxin in adipose tissue yielding "fat-free" (FF) mice completely lacking white and brown fat. FF mice exhibit systemic neutrophilia and elevated serum acute phase proteins suggesting a predisposition to severe IA. Surprisingly, FF mice are resistant to K/BxN serum-induced IA and attendant bone destruction.

Carbene-Catalyzed α-Carbon Amination of Chloroaldehydes for Enantioselective Access to Dihydroquinoxaline Derivatives.

An NHC-catalyzed α-carbon amination of chloroaldehydes was developed. Cyclohexadiene-1,2-diimines are used as amination reagents and four-atom synthons. Our reaction affords optically enriched dihydroquinoxalines that are core structures in natural products and synthetic bioactive molecules.

The Mevalonate Pathway Is Indispensable for Adipocyte Survival.

The mevalonate pathway is essential for the synthesis of isoprenoids and cholesterol. Adipose tissue is known as a major site for cholesterol storage; however, the role of the local mevalonate pathway and its synthesized isoprenoids remains unclear. In this study, adipose-specific mevalonate pathway-disrupted (aKO) mice were generated through knockout of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase (HMGCR).

Addition of N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyst to Aryl Esters Induces Remote C-Si Bond Activation and Benzylic Carbon Functionalization.

Through the incorporation of a silicon atom to an aryl carboxylic ester substrate, the resulting C-Si bond can be activated via the addition of a carbene catalyst on a remote site. This strategy allows for efficient functionalization of the benzylic sp-carbons of aryl carboxylic esters.