Efficient Homojunction Tin Perovskite Solar Cells Enabled by Gradient Germanium Doping.

P-type self-doping is known to hamper tin-based perovskites for developing high-performance solar cells by increasing the background current density and carrier recombination processes. In this work, we propose a gradient homojunction structure with germanium doping that generates an internal electric field across the perovskite film to deplete the charge carriers. This structure reduces the dark current density of perovskite by over 2 orders of magnitude and trap density by an order of magnitude. The resultant tin-based perovskite solar cells exhibit a higher power conversion efficiency of 13.3% and excellent stability, maintaining 95% and 85% of their initial efficiencies after 250 min of continuous illumination and 3800 h of storage, respectively. We reveal the homojunction formation mechanism using density functional theory calculations and molecular level characterizations. Our work provides a reliable strategy for controlling the spatial energy levels in tin perovskite films and offers insights into designing intriguing lead-free perovskite optoelectronics.

Ganonorsterone A, a norsteroid from the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lingzhi.

Phytochemical investigation on the fruiting bodies of the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lingzhi led to the isolation of a new norsteroid, namely ganonorsterone A (1), together with one known steroid, cyathisterol (2). The structure and absolute configuration of compound 1 were assigned by extensive analysis of MS, NMR data, and quantum-chemical calculations including electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and calculated 13C NMR-DP4+ analysis. Bioassay results showed that compound 1 displayed moderate inhibition on NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

LSD1 inhibitors from the roots of Pueraria lobata.

One new 6a,11a-dehydropterocarpan derivative, 6-O-methyl-anhydrotuberosin (1), one new 6a-hydroxypterocarpan, (6aR,11aR,11bR)-hydroxytuberosone (7), and seven known compounds including two 6a,11a-dehydropterocarpans (2 and 4), two coumestans (3 and 5), one isoflavonoid (6) and two other phenolic compounds (8 and 9) were isolated from the roots of Pueraria lobata. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated with spectroscopic and spectrometric methods (1 D and 2DNMR, HRESIMS). Compounds 1, 2, 4-5 showed potent LSD1 inhibitory activities with IC50 values ranging from 1.73 to 4.99 µM. Furthermore, compound 2 showed potent cytotoxicity against gastric cancer cell lines MGC-803 and BGC-823, and lung cancer cell lines H1299 and H460.

1,10-seco guaianolide-type sesquiterpenoids from Chrysanthemum indicum.

ABSTACTA chemical investigation of the whole plant of traditional Chinese medicine, Chrysanthemum indicum L., led to the discovery of six guaianolide-type sesquiterpenoids 1-6 with a 1,10-splited skeleton. The structure of the new compound 1 was established by extensive analysis of UV, IR, MS, NMR and ECD data. Compounds 3-6 are mutually stereoisomers with four chiral centers and their absolute configurations were determined by comparison of ECD spectra. The anti-inflammatory effects of these isolates on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) were investigated in RAW 264.7 cells. Results showed that most of the compounds displayed NO production inhibitory activities with IC50 values ranged from 3.54 to 8.17 µM.

Diterpenes with bicyclo[2.2.2]octane moieties from the fungicolous fungus Xylaria longipes HFG1018.

Xylarilongipins A (1) and B (2), two diterpenes each with an unusual cage-like bicyclo[2.2.2]octane moiety, along with their biosynthetic precursor hymatoxin L (3), were isolated from the culture broth of the fungicolous fungus Xylaria longipes HFG1018 inhabiting in the medicinal fungus Fomitopsis betulinus. The structures and absolute configurations of the three compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Xylarilongipin A (1) displayed moderate inhibitory activity against the cell proliferation of concanavalin A-induced T lymphocytes and lipopolysaccharide-induced B lymphocytes with IC50 values of 13.6 and 22.4 µM, respectively. Additionally, the biosynthetic pathways for compounds 1-3 are discussed. This work not only corroborates the structure of the 9,16-cyclo-(18-nor-)isopimarane skeleton by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis for the first time, but also provides new insights into the biosynthetic origin of the unusual diterpene skeletons.

Immunosuppressive Nor-isopimarane Diterpenes from Cultures of the Fungicolous Fungus Xylaria longipes HFG1018.

Eighteen new nor-isopimarane diterpenes, xylarinorditerpenes A-R (1-18), along with two previously reported compounds, 14α,16-epoxy-18-norisopimar-7-en-4α-ol (19) and the labdane-type diterpene agatadiol (20), were isolated from cultures of the fungicolous fungus Xylaria longipes HFG1018 isolated from the wood-rotting basidiomycete Fomitopsis betulinus. The structure elucidation and relative configuration assignments of 1-18 were accomplished by interpretation of spectroscopic data and through computational methods. The absolute configurations of 1, 4, and 16 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1-16 possess an 18- or 19-nor-isopimarane skeleton, and compounds 17 and 18 possess an 18,19-dinor-isopimarane skeleton. Compounds 2-5, 9, 14, 19, and 20 showed immunosuppressive activity but were devoid of cytotoxicity against the cell proliferation by concanavalin A-induced T lymphocytes and lipopolysaccharide-induced B lymphocytes, with IC50 values varying from 1.0 to 27.2 µM and from 16.1 to 51.8 µM, respectively.

Irpexolidal Represents a Class of Triterpenoid from the Fruiting Bodies of the Medicinal Fungus Irpex lacteus.

Irpexolidal (1), a triterpenoid with an unprecedented carbon skeleton, along with its biogenetic-related compound irpexolide A (2), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the medicinal fungus Irpex lacteus. Irpexolidal features a 6/5/6/5/6/5-fused polycyclic skeletal system which arises from the eburicane-type triterpene by a 6,7- seco-6,8- cyclo pattern. The structures of 1 and 2 were established by means of extensive spectroscopic techniques, ECD calculation, and DP4+ probability based on GIAO NMR chemical shift calculations. The plausible biosynthetic pathways for compounds 1 and 2 were proposed. Their biological activities were evaluated.

Heterocyclic Compounds from the Mushroom Albatrellus confluens and Their Inhibitions against Lipopolysaccharides-Induced B Lymphocyte Cell Proliferation.

Eight hetereocyclic compounds conflamides B-I with an unprecedented skeleton and their precursor conflamide A were isolated from the mushroom Albatrellus confluens. Their structures and absolute configurations were determined by use of NMR studies, total synthesis, and calculated ECD spectra. Conflamides D and E were found to exhibit potent inhibition against LPS-induced B lymphocyte cell proliferation with IC50 values 1.48 and 5.71 µM, respectively.

Irpeksins A-E, 1,10- seco-Eburicane-Type Triterpenoids from the Medicinal Fungus Irpex lacteus and Their Anti-NO Activity.

Five new triterpenoids, irpeksins A-E (1-5), were isolated from fruiting bodies of the medicinal fungus Irpex lacteus. The structures as well as absolute configurations of the new compounds were established via extensive spectroscopic analysis, computational methods, and Cotton effects. Compounds 1-4 are featured by a scaffold of 1,10- seco- and ring B aromatic eburicane (24-methyllanostane), and compound 5 is characterized by a scaffold of 1,10-9,11- diseco- and ring B aromatic eburicane, which represents unprecedented cleavage patterns in the lanostane family. Compounds 1-5 showed significant inhibitory activity against NO production in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells with IC50 values varying from 2.2 to 19.6 µM.

Matsutakone and Matsutoic Acid, Two (Nor)steroids with Unusual Skeletons from the Edible Mushroom Tricholoma matsutake.

Matsutakone (1), a novel sterol with an unprecedented polycyclic ring system, together with a new norsteroid matsutoic acid (2) were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Tricholoma matsutake. Their structures and absolute configurations were assigned by extensive spectroscopic analyses and computational methods. Bioassay results showed that compounds 1 and 2 exhibited inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase (IC50 20.9 µM for 1).

A new bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoid from the fermentation broth of fungus Antrodiella gypsea.

Studies of the fermentation broth of fungus Antrodiella gypsea led to the isolation of a new bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoid that was named gypseatriol (1), together with the known compound 2,10-dodecadiene-1,6,7-triol (2). The structure of this new metabolite was assigned by analysis of 2D NMR and HR-EI-MS. Absolute configuration was assigned by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 was evaluated for its antifungal activity on Candida albicans.

Lucidimine A-D, four new alkaloids from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum.

Four new polycylic alkaloids, lucidimine A-D, were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum. Their chemical structures were established based on 1D and 2D NMR data as well as HREIMS/HRESIMS analyses.

Two new triterpenoids from fruiting bodies of fungus Ganoderma lucidum.

Two new triterpenoids, (24E)-9α,11α-epoxy-3ß-hydroxylanosta-7,24-dien-26-al (1) and (22Z,24Z)-13-hydroxy-3-oxo-14(13 â†’ 12)abeo-lanosta-8,22,24-trien-26,23-olide (2) were isolated from dried fruiting bodies of fungus Ganoderma lucidum. The structures of these two new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compound 1 possessed a lanostane skeleton, while compound 2 was based on a rare 14 (13 â†’ 12)abeo-lanostane skeleton with a 26,23-olide moiety. Both of them were evaluated for their antifungal and cytotoxic activities. Neither of them displayed obvious inhibition on Candida albicans and five human cancer cell lines.

A Catalyst-Like System Enables Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells.

High-quality perovskite films are essential for achieving high performance of optoelectronic devices; However, solution-processed perovskite films are known to suffer from compositional and structural inhomogeneity due to lack of systematic control over the kinetics during the formation. Here, the microscopic homogeneity of perovskite films is successfully enhanced by modulating the conversion reaction kinetics using a catalyst-like system generated by a foaming agent. The chemical and structural evolution during this catalytic conversion is revealed by a multimodal synchrotron toolkit with spatial resolutions spanning many length scales. Combining these insights with computational investigations, a cyclic conversion pathway model is developed that yields exceptional perovskite homogeneity due to enhanced conversion, having a power conversion efficiency of 24.51% for photovoltaic devices. This work establishes a systematic link between processing of precursor and homogeneity of the perovskite films.

Clomazone impact on fungal network complexity and stability.

Introduction: Soil fungal network composition and stability are important for soil functions, but there is less understanding of the impact of clomazone on network complexity and stability. Methods: In this work, two agricultural soils were used to investigate the impact of clomazone on fungal network complexity, composition, and stability. The two soils were treated with clomazone solution (0, 0.8, 8, and 80 mg kg-1) and kept in an incubator. Results and Discussion: Under the influence of clomazone, the fungal network nodes were decreased by 12-42; however, the average degree was increased by 0.169-1.468 and fungal network density was increased by 0.003-0.054. The keystone nodes were significantly changed after clomazone treatment. Network composition was also impacted. Specifically, compared with control and clomazone treatments in both soils, the shared edges were fewer than 54 in all comparisons, and network dissimilarity was 0.97-0.98. These results suggested that fungal network composition was significantly impacted. The network robustness was increased by 0.0018-0.0209, and vulnerability was decreased by 0.00018-0.00059 in both soils, which indicated that fungal network stability was increased by clomazone. In addition, the functions of network communities were also changed in both soils. These results indicated that clomazone could significantly impact soil fungal networks.

Impact of clomazone on bacterial communities in two soils.

Introduction: Bacterial communities are important for soil functions, but the effect of clomazone on network complexity, composition, and stability is not well studied. Method: In this study, two agricultural soils were used to test the impact of clomazone on bacterial communities, and the two soils were treated with three concentrations of clomazone (0, 0.8, 8, and 80 mg kg1) in an incubator. Results and discussion: Bacterial network nodes, links, and average degrees were all decreased by 9-384, 648-829, and 0.703-2.429, respectively. Based on keystone nodes, the topological roles of the nodes were also influenced by clomazone. Bacterial network composition was also impacted based on the analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) and network dissimilarity. Compared with control and clomazone treatments in both soils, the ANOSIM between control and all clomazone treatments was higher than 0.6, network dissimilarities were 0.97-0.98, shared nodes were 131-260, and shared links were 12-100. The bacterial network stability was decreased by clomazone, with decreased robustness by 0.01-0.016 and increased vulnerability by 0.00023-0.00147 in both soils. There were fewer bacterial network modules preserved after clomazone treatment, and the bacterial network community functions were also impacted in both soils. Based on these results, soil bacterial species connections, modularization, and network stability were significantly impacted by clomazone.

Fungal network composition and stability in two soils impacted by trifluralin.

Introduction: The composition and stability of soil fungal network are important for soil function, but the effect of trifluralin on network complexity and stability is not well understood. Methods: In this study, two agricultural soils were used to test the impact of trifluralin on a fungal network. The two soils were treated with trifluralin (0, 0.84, 8.4, and 84 mg kg-1) and kept in artificial weather boxes. Results and discussion: Under the impact of trifluralin, the fungal network nodes, edges, and average degrees were increased by 6-45, 134-392, and 0.169-1.468 in the two soils, respectively; however, the average path length was decreased by 0.304-0.70 in both soils. The keystone nodes were also changed in trifluralin treatments in the two soils. In the two soils, trifluralin treatments shared 219-285 nodes and 16-27 links with control treatments, and the network dissimilarity was 0.98-0.99. These results indicated that fungal network composition was significantly influenced. After trifluralin treatment, fungal network stability was increased. Specifically, the network robustness was increased by trifluralin with 0.002-0.009, and vulnerability was decreased by trifluralin with 0.0001-0.00032 in the two soils. Fungal network community functions were also impacted by trifluralin in both soils. Trifluralin significantly impacts the fungal network.

Pyrrole alkaloids from the fruiting bodies of edible mushroom Lentinula edodes.

Nine pyrrole alkaloid derivatives, including four new ones (1-4), were isolated from the wild mushroom Lentinula edodes for the first time. Their chemical structures were determined using UV-Vis spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, MS, NMR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Compound 1, a previously unreported bicylo-pyrrole aldehyde homologue, was found to be a major component, approximately 8.2 µg g -1 in the dry powder of L. edodes. Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity against SMMC-772 (IC50 15.8 µM) without any cytotoxic effect on LO2, a normal hepatic cell line; compounds 1 and 2 displayed weak immunosuppressive activities by inhibiting the proliferation of induced T cells; compound 3 showed inhibition activity on the proliferation of HaCaT cell line (IC50 25.4 µM) and weak antioxidant activity at a concentration of 50 µM.

Whole genome analysis of Streptomyces sp. RerS4, a Rehmannia glutinosa rhizosphere microbe producing a new lipopeptide.

Rehmannia glutinosa, a valuable medicinal plant, is threatened by ring rot, a condition that greatly affects its yield and quality. Interactions between plant and the rhizosphere soil microbiome in the context of pathogen invasion are generally more specific, with recruitment of specialized microbes potentially antagonistic to a certain pathogen. Isolation of microorganisms from rhizosphere soil of healthy and ring rot-infected R. glutinosa was carried out to screen antifungal microbes. A strain designated RerS4 isolated from ring rot-infected R. glutinosa rhizosphere soil with strong antifungal activities was selected for further study. RerS4 was taxonomically characterized as the genus Streptomyces according to its morphology and 16S rRNA sequences that were most closely related to Streptomyces racemochromogenes NRRL B-5430T (99.72%) and Streptomyces polychromogenes NBRC 13072T (99.72%). A new lipopeptide isolated from RerS4 showed restrained proliferation, but was devoid of significant antibacterial and antioxidant activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 20.3 ± 2.5 and 70.8 ± 3.7 µg/mL and half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 23.3 ± 0.8 and 58.8 ± 2.9 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, we report the complete genome sequence of Streptomyces sp. RerS4, which consists of a 7,301,482 bp linear chromosome and a 242,139 bp plasmid. Genome analysis revealed that Streptomyces sp. RerS4 contained 25 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) for secondary metabolites, among which 68% had low similarities with known BGCs, leading us to believe that Streptomyces sp. RerS4 could produce valuable bioactive compounds.

Dysosmaflavonoid A-F, new flavonols with potent DPPH radical scavenging activity from Dysosma versipellis.

Six new flavonols, including four glucosylated flavonols (dysosmaflavonoid A-D), one phenylpropanoid-substituted flavonol (dysosmaflavonoid E), and one phenyl-substituted flavonol (dysosmaflavonoid F), together with five known analogues, were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Dysosma versipellis. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of their NMR, IR, UV, HRESIMS, and HPLC data. The antioxidant activities of all isolated compounds were examined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. Compounds 2, 3, 5-8, and 12 exhibited significant DPPH scavenging capacity with IC50 values of 33.95, 39.02, 31.17, 32.79, 31.85, 30.48, and 23.75 µM, respectively, in comparison with Trolox (IC50, 15.80 µM). Compound 12 displayed more potent DPPH radical scavenging activity than prenylated and (or) glucosided derivatives (2-4, or 10). The preliminary structure-activity relationship showed that the catechol structure in flavonol is essential for DPPH radical scavenging effect.