Rational Strategies to Improve the Efficiency of 2D Perovskite Solar Cells.

In the quest for durable photovoltaic devices, 2D halide perovskites have emerged as a focus of extensive research. However, the reduced dimension in structure is accompanied by inferior optical-electrical properties, such as widened band gap, enhanced exciton binding energy, and obstructed charge transport. As a result, the efficiency of 2D perovskite solar cells (PSCs) lags significantly behind their 3D counterparts. To overcome these constraints, extensive investigations into materials and processing techniques are pursued rigorously to augment the efficiency of 2D PSCs. Herein, The cutting-edge delve into developments in 2D PSCs, with a focus on chemical and material engineering, as well as their structure and photovoltaic properties. The review starts with an introduction of the crystal structure, followed by the key evaluation criteria of 2D PSCs. Then, the strategies around solution chemical engineering, processing technique, and interface optimization, to simultaneously boost efficiency and stability are systematically discussed. Finally, the challenges and perspectives associated with 2D perovskites to provide insights into potential improvements in photovoltaic performance will be outlined.

Identification and Molecular Mapping of the Gene YrFL in Wheat Cultivar Flanders with Durable Resistance to Stripe Rust.

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is one of the most severe diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) worldwide. Identification and characterization of resistance genes is advantageous to cultivating wheat varieties with durable resistance, which is the most economic and effective strategy to control stripe rust. Flanders, a common wheat cultivar released in France in 1986, confers effective resistance to stripe rust both at the seedling and adult plant stages. To elucidate the genetic basis of resistance in Flanders, F1, F2, and F2:3 generations derived from the cross Mingxian169 × Flanders were evaluated with the most prevalent Chinese Pst race CYR33 at the seedling stage. Inheritance analysis showed that the stripe rust resistance of Flanders was controlled by a single dominant gene, temporarily designated as YrFL. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) combined with a wheat 660K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array indicated that polymorphic SNP markers were mainly located in the 0 to 150 Mb on wheat chromosome 5A. One hundred and eleven kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) and 39 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers on chromosome 5A were used to locate the YrFL. Linkage analysis mapped YrFL with 19 KASP and three SSR markers on wheat chromosome 5AS, and the genetic distances of the closest flanking markers AX108925494 and Xbarc56 to YrFL were 0.6 and 2.0 cM, respectively. Chromosome location, resistance characterization, and molecular marker positions indicated that YrFL is likely a novel stripe rust resistance gene on wheat chromosome 5AS and could be pyramided with other resistance genes to improve resistance in wheat breeding programs.

Paired related homeobox 1 attenuates autophagy via acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1-regulated fatty acid metabolism in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Autophagy can affect the invasion and metastasis of carcinoma. Our previous study has shown that invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) can be promoted by the metabolic reprogramming of free fatty acids (FFAs). However, the effect of FFA metabolism on autophagy in SACC remains unknown. In this study, we showed that overexpression of paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) reduced the number of autophagosomes and decreased the expression of LC3 and Beclin-1 in SACC patients and SACC-83 cells in vitro. Moreover, PRRX1-mediating FFA reprogramming triggered to autophagy via regulating acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), leading to invasion and migration in SACC.

[Effect of PRRX1 on autophagy of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma cells].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of paired related homeobox1 (PRRX1) on autophagy of salivary adenoidcystic carcinoma (SACC) cells. METHODS: PRRX1-overexpressed lentiviral vectors and their negative control lentiviral vectors were used to transfect SACC cells. The transfection effect was detected by Western blot. Autophagosome was observed under transmission electron microscopy(TEM). The level of autophagy markers (LC3-II/Beclin1) was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 17.0 software package. RESULTS: PRRX1 protein level increased, autophagosome number decreased, and autophagy marker level decreased in the PRRX1 overexpressed group, compared to the control (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PRRX1 inhibits the autophagy of SACC cells.

A Synthetic Biodegradable Polymer Membrane for Guided Bone Regeneration in Bone Defect.

Guided bone regeneration (GBR) technique is most commonly used to treat alveolar bone defect. Polylactic acid (PLA) attracts much attention to utilize as a GBR membrane because it has relatively high mechanical strength and biodegradability. However, randomized controlled trials of PLA as a GBR membrane in animals were rare. The aim of this work is to observe the efficacy of polylactic acid membrane in guiding bone regeneration in Beagle canine alveolar bone defect restoration and to compare efficacy with the collagen membrane, providing an experimental basis for further clinical use of the polylactic acid membrane. The tests of physical and chemical properties showed that the PLA membrane has well mechanical strength to maintenance the space for the new bone, and has proper aperture for the attachment of osteoblasts. Through X-ray and histopathological examination of the different time points, the bone grafting material covered with PLA membrane can form similar mature bone compared to collagen membrane ones. Meanwhile, biodegradable speed of the PLA membrane was slower. Thus, this study showed that polylactic acid membrane as synthetic biodegradable polymer was reliably effective in guiding bone regeneration of alveolar bone defects, showed the favorable osteogenic capability and forecasts well applications in bone augmentation.

Silencing of a Wheat Ortholog of Glucan Synthase-Like Gene Reduced Resistance to Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici.

Wheat powdery mildew, caused by the obligate biotrophic ascomycete fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), is a major threat to wheat production worldwide. It is known that Arabidopsis thaliana glucan synthase-like 5 (AtGSL5) improves the resistance of wheat to powdery mildew by increasing its anti-penetration abilities. However, the function of glucan synthase-like (GSL) orthologs in crop species remains largely unknown. In this study, TaGSL22, a novel functional ortholog of AtGSL5, was isolated as the only Bgt-induced GSL gene in wheat. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that TaGSL22 was conserved within the group of Gramineae and showed a closer relationship to GSL orthologs from monocots than to those from dicots. The TaGSL22 transcript was highest in the wheat leaves, followed by stems then roots. TaGSL22 was localized in the cell membrane and cytoplasm of wheat protoplasts, as predicted by transmembrane structure analysis. In addition, expression of TaGSL22 was induced by the plant hormones ethylene (ETH) and salicylic acid (SA), but down-regulated by jasmonate (JA) and abscisic acid (ABA). The transcript level of TaGSL22 was up-regulated in the incompatible interaction between Bgt and wheat, whereas it remained relatively unchanged in the compatible interaction. Knocking down of TaGSL22 by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) induced a higher infection type in the wheat-Bgt interaction. The TaGSL22-silenced plants exhibited reduced resistance to Bgt, accompanied by decreased callose accumulation. Our study shows a conserved function of GSL genes in plant immunity associated with penetration resistance, and it indicates that TaGSL22 can be used to improve papilla composition and enhance resistance to wheat powdery mildew.

JAK2/STAT3 is associated with the inflammatory process in periapical granuloma.

OBJECTIVE: It has been shown that JAK2/STAT3 is involved in the occurrence of various inflammatory diseases. The purpose of this study was to associate the expression of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and its receptor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and suppressors of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), to periapical granuloma. METHODS: Samples were collected from 40 patients who were divided into two groups, namely, healthy control (N=20) and periapical granuloma (N=20) groups in accordance with classified standards. The samples were prepared for histological analysis, immunohistochemistry, and double immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Only slight inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the tissues from the healthy control group. Extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed in patients with chronic periapical disease. The periapical granuloma group had higher levels of JAK2, STAT3, p-JAK2, p-STAT3 and SOCS3 (all P<0.05) than the control group. Double immunofluorescence staining results showed the presence of JAK2-positive and STAT3-positive cells in the periapical lesion areas. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that JAK2, STAT3, and SOCS3 can be observed and may be associated with the inflammatory process in periapical lesions. The results of this study will provide new insights into the pathological mechanisms of human periapical granuloma.