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- Beal, Jacob, et al.
(author)
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Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density
- 2020
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In: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 3:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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- Klionsky, Daniel J., et al.
(author)
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Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy
- 2012
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In: Autophagy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1554-8635 .- 1554-8627. ; 8:4, s. 445-544
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field.
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- 2019
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)
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- Schuettpelz, Eric, et al.
(author)
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A community-derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns
- 2016
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In: Journal of Systematics and Evolution. - : Wiley. - 1674-4918 .- 1759-6831. ; 54:6, s. 563-603
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Phylogeny has long informed pteridophyte classification. As our ability to infer evolutionary trees has improved, classifications aimed at recognizing natural groups have become increasingly predictive and stable. Here, we provide a modern, comprehensive classification for lycophytes and ferns, down to the genus level, utilizing a community-based approach. We use monophyly as the primary criterion for the recognition of taxa, but also aim to preserve existing taxa and circumscriptions that are both widely accepted and consistent with our understanding of pteridophyte phylogeny. In total, this classification treats an estimated 11 916 species in 337 genera, 51 families, 14 orders, and two classes. This classification is not intended as the final word on lycophyte and fern taxonomy, but rather a summary statement of current hypotheses, derived from the best available data and shaped by those most familiar with the plants in question. We hope that it will serve as a resource for those wanting references to the recent literature on pteridophyte phylogeny and classification, a framework for guiding future investigations, and a stimulus to further discourse.
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8. |
- Xiao, Manjun, et al.
(author)
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Approaching 19% efficiency and stable binary polymer solar cells enabled by a solidification strategy of solvent additive
- 2023
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In: Science in China Series B. - : SCIENCE PRESS. - 1674-7291 .- 1869-1870. ; 66, s. 1500-1510
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Additives play a crucial role in enhancing the photovoltaic performance of polymer solar cells (PSCs). However, the typical additives used to optimize blend morphology of PSCs are still high boiling-point solvents, while their trace residues may reduce device stability. Herein, an effective strategy of "solidification of solvent additive (SSA)" has been developed to convert additive from liquid to solid, by introducing a covalent bond into low-cost solvent diphenyl sulfide (DPS) to synthesize solid dibenzothiophene (DBT) in one-step, which achieves optimized morphology thus promoting efficiency and device stability. Owing to the fine planarity and volatilization of DBT, the DBT-processed films achieve ordered molecular crystallinity and suitable phase separation compared to the additive-free or DPS-treated ones. Importantly, the DBT-processed device also possesses improved light absorption, enhanced charge transport, and thus a champion efficiency of 11.9% is achieved in the PM6:Y6-based PSCs with an excellent additive component tolerance, reproducibility, and stability. Additionally, the DBT-processed PM6:L8-BO-based PSCs are further fabricated to study the universality of SSA strategy, offering an impressive efficiency approaching 19% as one of the highest values in binary PSCs. In conclusion, this article developed a promising strategy named SSA to boost efficiency and improve stability of PSCs.
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9. |
- Yi, Fan, et al.
(author)
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Non-Fully Conjugated Dimerized Giant Acceptors with Different Alkyl-Linked Sites for Stable and 19.13 % Efficiency Organic Solar Cells
- 2024
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In: Angewandte Chemie International Edition. - : WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH. - 1433-7851 .- 1521-3773.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Achieving both high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and device stability is a major challenge for the practical development of organic solar cells (OSCs). Herein, three non-fully conjugated dimerized giant acceptors (named 2Y-sites, including wing-site-linked 2Y-wing, core-site-linked 2Y-core, and end-site-linked 2Y-end) are developed. They share the similar monomer precursors but have different alkyl-linked sites, offering the fine-tuned molecular absorption, packing, glass transition temperature, and carrier mobility. Among their binary active layers, D18/2Y-wing has better miscibility, leading to optimized morphology and more efficient charge transfer compared to D18/2Y-core and D18/2Y-end. Therefore, the D18/2Y-wing-based OSCs achieve a superior PCE of 17.73 %, attributed to enhanced photocurrent and fill factor. Furthermore, the D18/2Y-wing-based OSCs exhibit a balance of high PCE and improved stability, distinguishing them within the 2Y-sites. Building on the success of 2Y-wing in binary systems, we extend its application to ternary OSCs by pairing it with the near-infrared absorbing D18/BS3TSe-4F host. Thanks to the complementary absorption within 300-970 nm and further optimized morphology, ternary OSCs obtain a higher PCE of 19.13 %, setting a new efficiency benchmark for the dimer-derived OSCs. This approach of alkyl-linked site engineering for constructing dimerized giant acceptors presents a promising pathway to improve both PCE and stability of OSCs. Three new non-fully conjugated dimerized giant acceptors with different alkyl-linked sites are developed. Among them, wing-sited 2Y-wing has fine-tuned packing and better miscibility with donor, allowing to 19.13 % efficiency (which is the highest value among the devices with giant acceptors) and highly stable organic solar cells. image
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10. |
- Deng, Yin, et al.
(author)
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Effects of Zr/(Sc plus Zr) microalloying on dynamic recrystallization, dislocation density and hot workability of Al-Mg alloys during hot compression deformation
- 2023
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In: Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China. - : ELSEVIER. - 1003-6326 .- 2210-3384. ; 33:3, s. 668-682
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The deformation behavior and microstructure characteristics of Al-6.00Mg, Al-6.00Mg-0.10Zr and Al-6.00Mg-0.25Sc-0.10Zr (wt.%) alloys were investigated by hot compression tests and electron microscopy methods. The results show that after deforming under the maximum processing efficiency condition (673 K, 0.01 s-1), dislocation densities of Al-6.00Mg, Al-6.00Mg-0.10Zr and Al-6.00Mg-0.25Sc-0.10Zr alloys are 2.68x1016, 8.93x1016 and 6.1x1017 m-2, respectively. Their dynamic recrystallization fractions are 19.8%, 15.0% and 12.7%, respectively. Kernel average misorientation (KAM) analyses indicate that dislocation accumulation near grain boundaries is enhanced by adding Zr or Sc+Zr. Besides, the established hot processing maps, based on the dynamic material model (DMM), reveal that the addition of Zr or Sc+Zr can reduce the range of low-temperature unstable domain but expand the unstable domain at high temperatures and high strains. The experimental results further verify that under the testing deformation condition, only the Al-6.00Mg-0.25Sc-0.10Zr alloy cracks at 773 K and 1 s-1.
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