Design and manipulation of high-performance photovoltaic systems based on two-dimensional novel KAgSe/KAgX(X=S,Te) van der Waals heterojunctions

The realization of high-performance two-dimensional (2D) solar photovoltaic systems are both fundamentally intriguing and practically appealing to meet the fast-growing energy requirements. Since the limited application of single 2D crystals in photovoltaic, here we propose a family of 2D KAgSe/KAgX(X=S,Te) van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs), which are constructed by combining two different KAgX layers through interlayer vdW interaction. After a systematic study and further regulatory research of these vdWHs based on the first-principles, numerous fascinating characteristics and physical mechanisms are obtained. Firstly, favorable potential applications of these vdWHs in photovoltaics are confirmed in virtue of their desirable optoelectronic properties, such as the robust stabilitis, moderate direct band gaps, type-II band alignments together with superior carrier mobilities, visible optical absorptions, power conversion efficiencys (PCEs) and photocurrents in their based photovoltaic devices. More importantly, when under varying vertical electric field Ez, a phase transition of band alignment from type-II to type-I of these vdWHs can be induced by the opposite band shifts between layers, which may enrich their applications in light-emitting diodes and lasers. Meanwhile, the PCE can be expanded up to 23%, and an obvious red-shift peak of the photocurrent in the visible light range are also obtained at different Ez. These fascinating tunable properties of KAgSe/KAgX vdWHs under varying Ez not only promote the improvement of their photoelectric performances, but the underlying mechanisms can also be applied to next experimental design and practical application of other 2D photovoltaic systems. Especially for the red-shift peak of the photocurrent, which is rarely found but highly desirable in practical visible photoelectric conversion.Comment: 11 pages, 7figure

Single-cell analysis reveals the COL11A1+ fibroblasts are cancer-specific fibroblasts that promote tumor progression

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) promote tumor progression through extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and extensive communication with other cells in tumor microenvironment. However, most CAF-targeting strategies failed in clinical trials due to the heterogeneity of CAFs. Hence, we aimed to identify the cluster of tumor-promoting CAFs, elucidate their function and determine their specific membrane markers to ensure precise targeting.Methods: We integrated multiple single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets across different tumors and adjacent normal tissues to identify the tumor-promoting CAF cluster. We analyzed the origin of these CAFs by pseudotime analysis, and tried to elucidate the function of these CAFs by gene regulatory network analysis and cell-cell communication analysis. We also performed cell-type deconvolution analysis to examine the association between the proportion of these CAFs and patients’ prognosis in TCGA cancer cohorts, and validated that through IHC staining in clinical tumor tissues. In addition, we analyzed the membrane molecules in different fibroblast clusters, trying to identify the membrane molecules that were specifically expressed on these CAFs.Results: We found that COL11A1+ fibroblasts specifically exist in tumor tissues but not in normal tissues and named them cancer-specific fibroblasts (CSFs). We revealed that these CSFs were transformed from normal fibroblasts. CSFs represented a more activated CAF cluster and may promote tumor progression through the regulation on ECM remodeling and antitumor immune responses. High CSF proportion was associated with poor prognosis in bladder cancer (BCa) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and IHC staining of COL11A1 confirmed their specific expression in tumor stroma in clinical BCa samples. We also identified that CSFs specifically express the membrane molecules LRRC15, ITGA11, SPHK1 and FAP, which could distinguish CSFs from other fibroblasts.Conclusion: We identified that CSFs is a tumor specific cluster of fibroblasts, which are in active state, may promote tumor progression through the regulation on ECM remodeling and antitumor immune responses. Membrane molecules LRRC15, ITGA11, SPHK1 and FAP could be used as therapeutic targets for CSF-targeting cancer treatment

Relatório de estágio em farmácia comunitária

Relatório de estágio realizado no âmbito do Mestrado Integrado em Ciências Farmacêuticas, apresentado à Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbr

Pavement Maintenance Decision Making Based on Optimization Models

Pavement maintenance prioritization considering both quality and cost is an important decision-making problem. In this paper, the actual pavement condition index of city roads was calculated using municipal patrol data. A linear optimization model that maximized maintenance quality with limited maintenance costs and a multi-objective optimization model that maximized maintenance quality while minimizing maintenance costs were developed based on the pavement condition index. These models were subsequently employed in making decisions for actual pavement maintenance using sequential quadratic programming and a genetic algorithm. The results showed that the proposed decision-making models could effectively address actual pavement maintenance issues. Additionally, the results of the single-objective linear optimization model verified that the multiobjective optimization model was accurate. Thus, they could provide optimal pavement maintenance schemes for roads according to actual pavement conditions. The reliability of the models was investigated by analyzing their assumptions and validating their optimization results. Furthermore, their applicability in pavement operation-related decision making and preventive maintenance for roads of different grades was confirmed

Preparation and Photocatalytic Performances of WO3/TiO2 Composite Nanofibers

The use of sunlight for photocatalytic oxidation is an ideal strategy, but it is limited by factors such as insufficient light absorption intensity of the photocatalyst and easy recombination of photogenerated electron holes. TiO2 is favored by researchers as an environment-friendly catalyst. In this paper, TiO2 is combined with WO3 to obtain a nanofiber with excellent catalytic performance under sunlight. The WO3/TiO2 composite nanofibers were synthesized by using the electrospinning method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that WO3 was successfully integrated onto the surface of TiO2. The photodegradation performance and photocurrent analysis of the prepared nanofibers showed that the addition of WO3 really improved the photocatalytic performance of TiO2 nanofibers, methylene blue (MB) degradation rate increased from 72% to 96%, and 5% was the optimal composite mole percentage of W to Ti. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-Vis DRS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis further characterized the properties of 5% WO3/TiO2 nanofibers. The H2 generation rate of 5% WO3/TiO2 nanofibers was 107.15 μmol·g−1·h−1, in comparison with that of TiO2 nanofibers (73.21 μmol·g−1·h−1) under the same condition. The 5% WO3/TiO2 produced ·OH under illumination, which played an important role in the MB degradation. Also, the enhanced photocatalytic mechanism was also proposed based on the detailed analysis of the band gap and the active species trapping experiment. The results indicated that the effective separation of Z-scheme photogenerated electron-hole pairs and transfer system constructed between TiO2 and WO3 endowed the excellent photocatalytic activity of 5% WO3/TiO2 nanofibers

Effects of dietary nanocrystalline cellulose supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, intestinal development and lipid metabolism of meat ducks

The influence of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, intestinal development, and lipid metabolism was assessed in 600 one-day-old male meat ducks (Cherry Valley ducks) from 1 to 35 d of age. Diets were supplemented with 0, 200, 500, 800 and 1,500 mg/kg NCC during both the starter (1–14 d) and grower (15–35 d) phases. Each dietary treatment consisted of 8 replicate cages of 15 birds. Supplementation of NCC was associated with dose dependent increases in BW gain and feed intake (P < 0.01) during 1–14 d of age and in BW at 35 d of age. As NCC content increased, the percentage of breast meat weight (P < 0.05) and leg (with bone) weight (P < 0.05) linearly increased, while the percentage of abdominal fat weight (P < 0.01) linearly decreased in ducks at 35 d of age. Supplementation of NCC resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the weight (P < 0.05) and density (P < 0.01) of the cecum. The percentage of total hepatic lipid content (P < 0.01) at 14 d of age and serum triglyceride (TG) concentration (P = 0.052) at 35 d of age linearly decreased with increasing of dietary NCC addition. In conclusion, inclusion of 1,500 mg/kg NCC in feed resulted in the greatest improvements in duck performance, intestinal development and lipid deposition

High nutrient intake during the early postnatal period accelerates skeletal muscle fiber growth and maturity in intrauterine growth-restricted pigs

Abstract Background Intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) neonates impair postnatal skeletal muscle growth. The aim of this study was to investigate whether high nutrient intake (HNI) during the suckling period could improve muscle growth and metabolic status of IUGR pigs. Methods Twelve pairs of IUGR and normal birth weight (NBW) pigs (7 days old) were randomly assigned to adequate nutrient intake and HNI formula milk groups. Psoas major (PM) muscle sample was obtained after 21 days of rearing. Results IUGR decreased cross-sectional areas (CSA) and myofiber numbers, activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and mRNA expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), ribosomal protein s6 (RPS6), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), protein expression of phosphorylated mTOR (P-mTOR), and phosphorylated protein kinase B (P-Akt) in the PM muscle of pigs. Irrespective of birth weight, HNI increased muscle weight and CSA, the concentration of RNA, and ratio of RNA to DNA, as well as ratio of LDH to β-hydroxy-acyl-CoA-dehydrogenase in the PM muscle of pigs. Furthermore, HNI increased percentages of MyHC IIb, mRNA expression of IGF-1, IGF-1R, Akt, mTOR, RPS6, and eIF4E, as well as protein expression of P-mTOR, P-Akt, P-RPS6, and P-eIF4E in the PM muscle of pigs. Conclusion The present findings suggest that high nutrient intake during the suckling period could improve skeletal muscle growth and maturity, which is associated with increasing the expression of protein deposition-related genes and accelerating the development of glycolytic-type myofiber in pigs

Preparation and Photocatalysis of Schlumbergera bridgesii-Like CdS Modified One-Dimensional TiO2 Nanowires on Zeolite

In recent years, composite semiconductor photocatalytic materials have received significant attention as a novel type of materials and technical means. So in this work, CdS-modified TiO2 nanowires are fabricated on natural zeolite by simple sol-gel and hydrothermal synthesis method. This novel composite semiconductor photocatalytic material has almost solved the shortcomings of pure TiO2, such as easy cohesion, low utilization rate, and exceedingly weak photocatalytic activities under visible light. The degradation efficiency of methylene blue dye in water is near to 90% with CdS-modified TiO2 nanowires/zeolite composite materials after 60 min under visible light, which indicated its huge potential application in wastewater treatment

A concise way to prevent bloom risk in ecological use of reclaimed water: Determination of the threshold by model calculation

The risk of algal blooms in landscape water bodies replenished by reclaimed water (RW) prompted the scientific management of RW discharge issues. Mathematical models are concise and convincing methods to stimulate algal growth and calculate thresholds for water quality control. This study presented three types of models, including one-parameter models, multiple-parameter models, and ecosystem dynamic models. Key influencing factors (such as nutrient concentration, light intensity, temperature, biotic processes, specific hydraulic conditions, etc.) are taken into consideration in these models. The work provided feasible methods for the management of reclaimed water to prevent water bloom outbreaks

Zearalenone Induces Apoptosis and Cytoprotective Autophagy in Chicken Granulosa Cells by PI3K-AKT-mTOR and MAPK Signaling Pathways

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a nonsteroidal estrogenic mycotoxin found in several food commodities worldwide. ZEA causes reproductive disorders, genotoxicity, and testicular toxicity in animals. However, little is known about the functions of apoptosis and autophagy after exposure to ZEA in granulosa cells. This study investigated the effects of ZEA on chicken granulosa cells. The results show that ZEA at different doses significantly inhibited the growth of chicken granulosa cells by inducing apoptosis. ZEA treatment up-regulated Bax and downregulated Bcl-2 expression, promoted cytochrome c release into the cytosol, and triggered mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Consequently, caspase-9 and downstream effector caspase-3 were activated, resulting in chicken granulosa cells apoptosis. ZEA treatment also upregulated LC3-II and Beclin-1 expression, suggesting that ZEA induced a high level of autophagy. Pretreatment with chloroquine (an autophagy inhibitor) and rapamycin (an autophagy inducer) increased and decreased the rate of apoptosis, respectively, in contrast with other ZEA-treated groups. Autophagy delayed apoptosis in the ZEA-treated cells. Therefore, autophagy may prevent cells from undergoing apoptosis by reducing ZEA-induced cytotoxicity. In addition, our results further show that the autophagy was stimulated by ZEA through PI3K-AKT-mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways in chicken granulosa cells