| 1. |
- Beal, Jacob, et al.
(författare)
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Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density
- 2020
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Ingår i: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 3:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data.
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| 2. |
- Bai, Yang, et al.
(författare)
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Geometry design of tethered small-molecule acceptor enables highly stable and efficient polymer solar cells
- 2023
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : NATURE PORTFOLIO. - 2041-1723. ; 14:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- With the power conversion efficiency of binary polymer solar cells dramatically improved, the thermal stability of the small-molecule acceptors raised the main concerns on the device operating stability. Here, to address this issue, thiophene-dicarboxylate spacer tethered small-molecule acceptors are designed, and their molecular geometries are further regulated via the thiophene-core isomerism engineering, affording dimeric TDY-alpha with a 2, 5-substitution and TDY-beta with 3, 4-substitution on the core. It shows that TDY-alpha processes a higher glass transition temperature, better crystallinity relative to its individual small-molecule acceptor segment and isomeric counterpart of TDY-beta, and amore stablemorphology with the polymer donor. As a result, the TDY-alpha based device delivers a higher device efficiency of 18.1%, and most important, achieves an extrapolated lifetime of about 35000 hours that retaining 80% of their initial efficiency. Our result suggests that with proper geometry design, the tethered small-molecule acceptors can achieve both high device efficiency and operating stability.
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| 3. |
- Li, Ziyao, et al.
(författare)
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Atomic-level orbital coupling in a tri-metal alloy site enables highly efficient reversible oxygen electrocatalysis
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Materials Chemistry A. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2050-7488 .- 2050-7496. ; 11:5, s. 2155-2167
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Complex multi-metallic alloys with ultra-small sizes have received extensive attention in the fields of Zn-air battery and water splitting, because of their unique advantages including adjustable composition, tailorable active sites, and optimizable electronic structure. In this effort, an atomic-level orbital coupling strategy is presented to effectively regulate the electronic structures of ultra-small tri-metal Fe-Co-Ni nanoalloy particles confined in an N-doped carbon hollow nanobox. As expected, the optimal nanoalloy hybrid material exhibited notable bi-functional catalytic performances toward the oxygen reduction reaction (half-wave potential of 0.902 V) and oxygen evolution reaction (1.589 V at 10 mA cm−2) with a small ΔE of 0.687 V, exceeding the precious-metal-based and many previously reported catalysts. Furthermore, the as-assembled Zn-air device also displayed a superior specific capacity of 894 mA h g−1, a maximal power density of 247 mW cm−2, and impressive durability (over 100 hours). Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations revealed that the electronic structures could be finely tuned and optimized through ternary metal alloying, resulting in a suitable d-band center and advantageous interfacial charge-transfer, which in turn could effectively reduce the involved energy barriers in the electrocatalytic process and significantly boost its intrinsic activity of reversible oxygen catalysis. Thus, this work affords an effective method for the rational creation of bi-functional non-noble-metal-based electrocatalysts for sustainable energy technology.
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| 4. |
- Liu, Hui, et al.
(författare)
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Centromere-Specific Retrotransposons and Very-Long-Chain Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in the Genome of Yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium, Sapindaceae), an Oil-Producing Tree With Significant Drought Resistance
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Plant Science. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 1664-462X. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In-depth genome characterization is still lacking for most of biofuel crops, especially for centromeres, which play a fundamental role during nuclear division and in the maintenance of genome stability. This study applied long-read sequencing technologies to assemble a highly contiguous genome for yellowhorn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium), an oil-producing tree, and conducted extensive comparative analyses to understand centromere structure and evolution, and fatty acid biosynthesis. We produced a reference-level genome of yellowhorn, ∼470 Mb in length with ∼95% of contigs anchored onto 15 chromosomes. Genome annotation identified 22,049 protein-coding genes and 65.7% of the genome sequence as repetitive elements. Long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs) account for ∼30% of the yellowhorn genome, which is maintained by a moderate birth rate and a low removal rate. We identified the centromeric regions on each chromosome and found enrichment of centromere-specific retrotransposons of LINE1 and Gypsy in these regions, which have evolved recently (∼0.7 MYA). We compared the genomes of three cultivars and found frequent inversions. We analyzed the transcriptomes from different tissues and identified the candidate genes involved in very-long-chain fatty acid biosynthesis and their expression profiles. Collinear block analysis showed that yellowhorn shared the gamma (γ) hexaploidy event with Vitis vinifera but did not undergo any further whole-genome duplication. This study provides excellent genomic resources for understanding centromere structure and evolution and for functional studies in this important oil-producing plant.
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| 5. |
- Sun, Xiao-dong, et al.
(författare)
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Implementing a novel capture and ligation probe-PCR method in mass screen and treatment to support malaria elimination efforts in the China-Myanmar border region
- 2023
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Ingår i: Malaria Journal. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1475-2875 .- 1475-2875. ; 22:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundMass screening and treatment (MSAT) for malaria elimination lacks an ideal diagnostic tool to allow sensitive and affordable test of the target population in the field. This study evaluated whether Capture and Ligation Probe-PCR (CLIP-PCR) could be used in a field MSAT in Laiza City, Myanmar.MethodsOn day 0, two dried blood spots were collected from each participant. On day 1, all samples were screened for Plasmodium in a 20 m(2) laboratory with workbench, a biosafety cabinet, a refrigerator, a benchtop shaking incubator and a qPCR machine, by four technicians using CLIP-PCR with sample pooling, at a health clinic of the Chinese bordering town of Nabang. On day 2, all positives were followed up and treated.ResultsOf 15,038 persons (65% of the total population) screened, 204 (1.36%) were CLIP-PCR positives. Among them, 188, 14, and 2 were infected with Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, and P. vivax/P. falciparum mix, respectively. The testing capacity was 538 persons/day, with a cost of US$0.92 /person. The proportion of submicroscopic infection was 64.7%. All positive individuals received treatment within 72 h after blood collection.ConclusionUsing CLIP-PCR in MSAT in low transmission settings can support the malaria elimination efforts in the China-Myanmar border region.
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| 6. |
- Zarkada, Georgia, et al.
(författare)
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Chylomicrons Regulate Lacteal Permeability and Intestinal Lipid Absorption
- 2023
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Ingår i: Circulation Research. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0009-7330 .- 1524-4571. ; 133:4, s. 333-349
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Lymphatic vessels are responsible for tissue drainage, and their malfunction is associated with chronic diseases. Lymph uptake occurs via specialized open cell-cell junctions between capillary lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), whereas closed junctions in collecting LECs prevent lymph leakage. LEC junctions are known to dynamically remodel in development and disease, but how lymphatic permeability is regulated remains poorly understood.Methods: We used various genetically engineered mouse models in combination with cellular, biochemical, and molecular biology approaches to elucidate the signaling pathways regulating junction morphology and function in lymphatic capillaries.Results: By studying the permeability of intestinal lacteal capillaries to lipoprotein particles known as chylomicrons, we show that ROCK (Rho-associated kinase)-dependent cytoskeletal contractility is a fundamental mechanism of LEC permeability regulation. We show that chylomicron-derived lipids trigger neonatal lacteal junction opening via ROCK-dependent contraction of junction-anchored stress fibers. LEC-specific ROCK deletion abolished junction opening and plasma lipid uptake. Chylomicrons additionally inhibited VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)-A signaling. We show that VEGF-A antagonizes LEC junction opening via VEGFR (VEGF receptor) 2 and VEGFR3-dependent PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase)/AKT (protein kinase B) activation of the small GTPase RAC1 (Rac family small GTPase 1), thereby restricting RhoA (Ras homolog family member A)/ROCK-mediated cytoskeleton contraction.Conclusions: Our results reveal that antagonistic inputs into ROCK-dependent cytoskeleton contractions regulate the interconversion of lymphatic junctions in the intestine and in other tissues, providing a tunable mechanism to control the lymphatic barrier.
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| 7. |
- Zhang, Xuning, et al.
(författare)
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On the understanding of energy loss and device fill factor trade-offs in non-fullerene organic solar cells with varied energy levels
- 2020
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Ingår i: Nano Energy. - : ELSEVIER. - 2211-2855 .- 2211-3282. ; 75
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fill factor (FF) is an important parameter governing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) in non-fullerene organic solar cells (NF-OSCs), which however is less studied than the other two parameters (short-circuit current J(sc) and open-circuit voltage V-oc). To understand how energy offsets, exciton and charge carrier dynamics impact the FF, four groups of bulk heterojunctions (BHJs) NF-OSCs are investigated with FFs varying from 0.61 to 0.78 under progressive changes of HOMO-HOMO offsets (Delta(HOMOs), from 0.09 to 0.24 eV). By pump-probe optical spectroscopy, we find that the FF exhibits a positive dependence on Delta(HOMO) and charge-separated state lifetime (tau(CS)) in the blends, a result of inhibited back charge transfers and recombination at the donor-acceptor interface under higher Delta(HOMO)s. Moreover, we observe a fast charge extraction with decreased sensitivity to internal electric-fields in high-FF devices. Despite these merits, the gains of FF are at the expense of increasing the voltage loss to non-radiative recombination in our studied systems. The combined results suggest that remaining appropriate energetic offsets is essential for controlling the carrier dynamics with longer-lived CS-states, restraining charge back transfer and reducing charge recombination toward high FFs and photovoltaic efficiencies.
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| 8. |
- Busch, Jonah, et al.
(författare)
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A global review of ecological fiscal transfers
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nature Sustainability. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2398-9629. ; 4:9, s. 756-765
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ecological fiscal transfers (EFT) transfer public revenue between governments within a country based on ecological indicators. EFT can compensate subnational governments for the costs of conserving ecosystems and in principle can incentivize greater ecological conservation. We review established EFT in Brazil, Portugal, France, China and India, and emerging or proposed EFT in ten more countries. We analyse common themes related to EFT emergence, design and effects. EFT have grown rapidly from US$0.35 billion yr−1 in 2007 to US$23 billion yr−1 in 2020. We discuss the scope of opportunity to expand EFT to other countries by ‘greening’ intergovernmental fiscal transfers.
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| 9. |
- Deng, Bin, et al.
(författare)
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Ketamine inhibits TNF-α-induced cecal damage by enhancing RIP1 ubiquitination to attenuate lethal SIRS
- 2022
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Ingår i: Cell death discovery. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2058-7716. ; 8:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a sepsis-associated inflammatory state and a self-defense mechanism against specific and nonspecific stimuli. Ketamine influences many key processes that are altered during sepsis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this study, TNF-α-treated mice, as well as HT-29 and L929 cell models, were applied to characterize TNF-α-induced systemic and local cecal tissue inflammatory responses. Behavioral, biochemical, histological, and molecular biological approaches were applied to illustrate the related processes. Mice with TNF-α-induced SIRS showed systemic and local cecal tissue inflammatory responses, as indicated by increased levels of high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), chemokines (C-X-C motif) ligand 10 (CXCL10), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-10, as well as high mortality. Ketamine pretreatment alleviated death rates, symptoms, and the production of inflammatory cytokines induced by TNF-α in mice. Moreover, ketamine also protected the mice from TNF-α-induced cecal damage by suppressing the phosphorylation of receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIP3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL). In addition, our results showed that ketamine efficiently inhibited TNF-α-induced necroptosis in HT-29 and L929 cells. Furthermore, we explored the mechanism using different L929 cell lines. The results displayed that ketamine inhibited TNF-α-induced necroptosis by enhancing RIP1 ubiquitination and reducing the RIP1-RIP3 and RIP3-MLKL interactions, as well as the formation of necrosomes. Thus, our study may provide a new theoretical and experimental basis for treating diseases characterized by SIRS-associated inflammatory factor storms. Moreover, our exploration may provide potential molecular mechanisms and targets for therapeutic intervention and clinical application of ketamine.
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| 10. |
- Fan, Xiaoyu, et al.
(författare)
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Paper test strip for silver ions detection in drinking water samples based on combined fluorometric and colorimetric methods
- 2023
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Ingår i: Arabian Journal of Chemistry. - : Elsevier. - 1878-5352 .- 1878-5379. ; 16:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study, a portable silver ion (Ag+) sensor was fabricated based on a dual signal output system using black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) as probes. It is the first work for Ag+ detection using paper test strip based on BPQDs. The color change of BPQDs paper sensor for the determination of Ag+ was easily identified by naked eye. BPQDs were synthesized from bulk black phosphorus (BP) by mechanical exfoliation combined with a solvothermal method. BPQDs exhibited blue fluorescence with a quantum yield of 8.82 %. The fluorescence of BPQDs can be quenched by Ag+, and the absorbance of BPQDs is increased with increasing Ag+ concentration. The mechanism of the interaction between BPQDs and Ag+ involving fluorescence quenching and bonding was investigated by experimental and computational methods. The detection limit of Ag+ was 1.56 μg/mL and 0.19 μg/mL using fluorometry and colorimetry methods, respectively. A portable visual sensor based on paper test strip was constructed for Ag+ detection using the colorimetric approach. The strategy was employed to determine Ag+ successfully in drinking water samples. Therefore, the proposed portable Ag+ sensor can be potentially utilized for the lab-free analysis of drinking water and even dietary samples.
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