Silicon dioxide (SiO(2)) is conventionally reduced to silicon by carbothermal reduction, in which the oxygen is removed by a heterogeneous-homogeneous reaction sequence at approximately 1,700 degrees C. Here we report pinpoint and bulk electrochemical methods for removing oxygen from solid SiO(2) in a molten CaCl(2) electrolyte at 850 degrees C. This approach involves a 'contacting electrode', in which a metal wire supplies electrons to a selected region of the insulating SiO(2). Bulk reduction of SiO(2) is possible by increasing the number of contacting points. The same method was also demonstrated with molten LiCl-KCl-CaCl(2) at 500 degrees C. The novelty and relative simplicity of this method might lead to new processes in silicon semiconductor technology, as well as in high-purity silicon production. The methodology may be applicable to electrochemical processing of a wide variety of insulating materials, provided that the electrolyte dissolves the appropriate constituent ion(s) of the material.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nmat900 | DOI Listing |
Appl Environ Microbiol
January 2025
Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play a crucial role in aiding bacteria to adapt to extreme and stressful environments. While there is a well-established understanding of their production, accrual, and transfer within marine ecosystems, knowledge about terrestrial environments remains limited. Investigation of the intestinal microbiome of earthworms has illuminated the presence of PUFAs presumably of microbial origin, which contrasts with the surrounding soil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWorldwide, congenital deafness and pigmentation disorders impact millions with their diverse manifestations, and among these genetic conditions, mutations in the Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF: OMIM#156845) gene are notable for their profound effects on melanocyte development and auditory functions. This study reports a novel porcupine model exhibiting spontaneous deafness and pigmentation abnormalities reminiscent of human Waardenburg Syndrome Type 2 (WS2: OMIM#193510). Through phenotypic characterization, including coat color, skin, eye morphology, and auditory brainstem response (ABR) assessments, we identified hypopigmentation and complete deafness in mutant porcupines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Biosci
December 2024
Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
The inherent heterogeneity of tumor cells impedes the development of targeted therapies for specific glioblastoma (GBM) subtypes. This study aims to investigate the mesenchymal subtype of GBM to uncover detailed characteristics, potential therapeutic strategies, and improve precision treatment for GBM patients. We integrated single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), single-nucleus assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (snATAC-seq), and bulk RNA sequencing datasets to identify core gene modules, candidate therapeutic drugs, and key transcription factors specific to mesenchymal subtype GBM tumor cells which we validated in vitro and human samples.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Immunol
December 2024
Science for Life Laboratory, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
Introduction: Macrophages and T cells play crucial roles in liver physiology, but their functional diversity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains largely unknown.
Methods: Two bulk RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) cohorts for HCC were analyzed using gene co-expression network analysis. Key gene modules and networks were mapped to single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of HCC.
Brief Bioinform
November 2024
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200025, China.
Intratumor heterogeneity significantly challenges the accuracy of existing prognostic models for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) by introducing biases related to the varied genetic and molecular landscapes within tumors. Traditional models, relying on single-sample, single-region bulk RNA sequencing, fall short of capturing the complexity of intratumor heterogeneity. To fill this gap, we developed a computational model for intratumor heterogeneity corrected signature (ITHCS) by employing both multiregion bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing to pinpoint genes that exhibit consistent expression patterns across different tumor regions but vary significantly among patients.
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