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Since the first bilayer-structured organic solar cells (OSCs) in 1986, fullerenes and their derivatives have dominated the landscape for two decades due to their unique properties. In recent years, the breakthrough in nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) was mainly attributed to the development of fused-ring electron acceptors (FREAs), whose photovoltaic performance surpassed that of fullerene derivatives. Through the unremitting efforts of the whole community, the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) have surpassed 19% in FREA-based OSCs. However, FREAs generally suffered from complex synthetic approaches and high product costs, which hindered large-scale production. Therefore, many researchers are seeking a new type of NFA to achieve cost-effective, highly efficient OSCs.

To improve the energy storage capacity of phase change materials, the influence of plant ash, a typical biomass solid waste, with different particle sizes on the encapsulation of palmitic acid has been investigated to find better supporting materials for preparing form-stable phase change material (FSPCM). During the experiment, palmitic acid/Plant ash composites with different mass fractions of palmitic acid were fabricated by the direct impregnation method. And the packaging capability, particle size distribution, surface area, microstructure, chemical compatibility, and thermal properties were investigated systematically. The particle size distribution test shows that the mean-volume diameter of plant ash sieved by 30–60 mesh (PLA-1) and PLA sieved by −60 mesh (PLA-2) is 60.21 and 41.21 μm, respectively. The DSC results show that the enthalpy of PA/PLA-2 FSPCM is 99.7 J/g, which is almost twice that of PA/PLA-1 FSPCM. In short, as-prepared PA/PLA FSPCM exerts a bigger energy storage capacity, which makes it a great candidate for thermal energy storage.

Inorganic phase change materials (PCM) with relatively high thermal storage capacity and low cost suffer from serious leakge, supercooling and low thermal conductivity, impeding its large-scale application. Herein, hybrid dimensional carbon nanomaterials including carbon nanofiber and graphene, was adopted ot tackle these issues. Furthermore, modified lotus root starch was employed to enhance the overall thermal storage capacity of the composite PCM. The comprehensive properties of the composite PCM were characterized by the technology of SEM, XRD, FT-IR, hot disk, viscometer, DSC, TGA, DFT calculation method. The results show than with the addition of hybrid dimensional carbon nanomaterials, semi-crystallization time of NaCH3COO·3H2O-Na2S2O3·5H2O/hybrid dimensional carbon nanomaterials composite PCM decreased from 0.96 min to 0.78 min, indicating the substantial supercooling mitigiation of hybrid dimensional carbon nanomaterials. Meanwhile, the addition of hybrid dimensional carbon nanomaterials also improve the thermal conductivity of the composite PCM to 1.403 W/(m·K), 2.5 times of that of NaCH3COO·3H2O-Na2S2O3·5H2O eutectic. It is worth noting that the addition of modified lotus root starch increased the maximum enthalpy of the composite PCM by 9.1%. The more hygrogen bonds of the composite which can improve the PCM-holding capacity, are responsible for this enthalpy increase. The study results can provide new insight on the high-performance inorganic PCM preparation and large-scale application.

Volatile solid additives (SADs) are considered as a simple yet effective approach to tune the film morphology for high-performance organic solar cells (OSCs). However, the structural effects of the SADs on the photovoltaic performance are still elusive. Herein, two volatilizable SADs were designed and synthesized. One is SAD1 with twisted conformation, while the other one is planar SAD2 with the S···O noncovalent intramolecular interactions (NIIs). The theoretical and experimental results revealed that the planar SAD2 with smaller space occupation can more easily insert between the Y6 molecules, which is beneficial to form a tighter intermolecular packing mode of Y6 after thermal treatment. As a result, the SAD2-treated OSCs exhibited less recombination loss, more balanced charge mobility, higher hole transfer rate, and more favorable morphology, resulting in a record power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.85% (certified

The polymerization of fused-ring acceptors (FRAs) to afford their corresponding polymeric acceptors for high-performance all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) has achieved remarkable progress in the past few years. However, due to the high degree of synthetic complexity for the monomer, the high-cost of these polymeric acceptors may limit their commercial applications. Thus, it is urgent to develop inexpensive and high-performance polymeric acceptors for all-PSCs. Herein, two novel polymeric acceptors (PBTzOand PBTzO-2F) have been designed and synthesized by copolymerization of noncovalently fused ring acceptors (NFRAs), which were employed in all-PSCs for the first time. Upon introducing the “noncovalently conformational locks (NoCLs)” in the backbone and selective fluorination of the end-group, photophysical and electrical properties, and solid-state packing properties of the NFRAs have been rationally tuned. As a result, the PBDB-T:PBTzO-2Fbased devices presented an excellent power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 11.04%, much higher than that of PBTzObased ones due to the increased charge generation and extraction, improved hole transfer and carrier mobilities, and reduced energy loss. More importantly, PBTzO-2Fexhibited a much lower synthetic complexity (SC) index and higher figure-of-merit (FOM) values than the highperformance fused-ring acceptor based polymer acceptors (FRA-PAs) due to the simpler structures and more effective synthesis. This contribution provided a novel idea to achieve low-cost and high-performance all-PSCs.

Baylisascaris schroederi, a roundworm (ascaridoid) parasite specific to the bamboo-feeding giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca), represents a leading cause of mortality in wild giant panda populations. Here, we present a 293-megabase chromosome-level genome assembly of B. schroederito infer its biology, including host adaptations. Comparative genomics revealed an evolutionary trajectory accompanied by host-shift events in ascaridoid parasite lineages after host separations, suggesting their potential for transmission and rapid adaptation to new hosts. Genomic and anatomical lines of evidence, including expansion and positive selection of genes related to the cuticle and basal metabolisms, indicate that B. schroederiundergoes specific adaptations to survive in the sharp-edged bamboo-enriched gut of giant pandas by structurally increasing its cuticle thickness and efficiently utilizing host nutrients through gut parasitism. Additionally, we characterized the secretome of B. schroederiand predicted potential drug and vaccine targets for new control strategies. Overall, this genome resource provides new insights into the host adaptation of B. schroederito the giant panda as well as the host-shift events in ascaridoid parasite lineages. Our findings on the unique biology of B. schroederiwill also aid in the development of prevention and treatment measures to protect giant panda populations from roundworm parasitism.

Baylisascaris schroederi, a roundworm (ascaridoid) parasite specific to the bamboo-feeding giant panda(Ailuropoda melanoleuca), represents a leading cause of mortality in wild giant panda populations. Here, we present a 293-megabase chromosome-level genome assembly of B. schroederito infer its biology, including host adaptations. Comparative genomics revealed an evolutionary trajectory accompanied by host-shift events in ascaridoid parasite lineages after host separations, suggesting their potential for transmission and rapid adaptation to new hosts. Genomic and anatomical lines of evidence, including expansion and positive selection of genes related to the cuticle and basal metabolisms, indicate that B. schroederiundergoes specific adaptations to survive in the sharp-edged bamboo-enriched gut of giant pandas by structurally increasing its cuticle thickness and efficiently utilizing host nutrients through gut parasitism. Additionally, we characterized the secretome of B. schroederiand predicted potential drug and vaccine targets for new control strategies. Overall, this genome resource provides new insights into the host adaptation of B. schroederito the giant panda as well as the host-shift events in ascaridoid parasite lineages. Our findings on the unique biology of B. schroederiwill also aid in the development of prevention and treatment measures to protect giant panda populations from roundworm parasitism.

In this study, surface modification of basalt fibers (BFs) utilizing atmospheric pressure plasma deposition was carried out. Using this one-step deposition approach, three siloxane precursors with different structures including methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO), and tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) were deposited on BFs surface, respectively. The physicochemical properties of the thin films from three different siloxane compounds are elucidated. In comparison with MTMS-coated sample, HMDSO-coated and TMOS-coated BFs surfaces feature an improved thermal insulation performance. The results demonstrate that atmospheric pressure plasma deposition is an efficient approach to modify flexible materials surface with improved thermal insulation. Moreover, it provides a reference to decide which precursor type is preferred for certain applications.

•Lauric acid (LA)/roasted iron tailings (RIT)/graphene nanoparticles composite PCM was prepared.•A new approach for high-value utilization of solid waste tailings is provided.•Coupling GNP and modified RIT can improve the specific surface area and LA loading.•Thermal conductivity of LA/RIT/GNP (5 wt%) was 9.03 times higher than that of pure LA.

The high cost and relatively complex packaging technology constrain the use of phase change materials (PCMs) in the field of thermal energy storage. Hence, in this study, the form-stable phase change materials (FSPCMs) of lauric acid (LA)/raw fly ash (RFA)-expanded graphite (EG) with a low cost were prepared via simple direct impregnation method by impregnating LA into RFA and EG, which was used to further enhancing heat transfer and package efficiency. Thus, the binary supporting materials-based eco-friendly FSPCMs were synthesized by using cheaper supporting materials RFA-EG for large-scale preparation of PCM. Subsequently, the fabricated FSPCMs have been characterized by analysis techniques such as SEM (scanning electron microscope) and BET (Brunauer-Emmet-Teller), FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), DSC (different scanning calorimetry), and TGA (thermogravimetry analysis) to determine the microstructure, chemical compatibility, thermal properties, and thermal stability. The results show that the maximum mass fraction of LA absorbed into RFA without leakage was up to 50 wt%. The SEM analysis showed that LA could cover the surface of RFA particles and the EG was dispersed in the space among RFA particles. And, the heat storage and release efficiency of LA/RFA-EG exhibited higher heat transfer efficiency than that of LA and LA/RFA. The phase change temperature and latent heat of LA/RFA-EG FSPCM were 45.73 °C and 85.34 J/g, respectively. The TGA demonstrated that LA/RFA-EG FSPCM presented good thermal stability. Compared to pure LA, the thermal conductivity of LA/RFA-EG (10 wt%) was up to 0.933 W/m·k, which increased by 478.46 % due to the introduction of 10 wt% EG and RFA. The heat-storing or releasing time of LA/RFA-EG was decreased by 60 % for the melting process and 76.92 % for the freezing process than that of LA, respectively. Using solid waste as the supporting material, the eco-friendly LA/RFA-EG with high absorption capacity and high latent heat was a promising candidate for the large-scale application of FSPCMs in thermal energy storage.

The organic optoelectronic synapse achieves unprecedented sound perception on volume, tone and timbre simultaneously.The quantitative relationship between the interfacial layers and synaptic performances is clarified.

Phase change materials (PCMs) with high thermal storage density and constant working temperature suffer from low thermal conductivity, hindering their large-scale application. Herein, in situ reduction deposition of Cu, a relatively inexpensive and highly thermally conductive metal, on PCM carrier has been proposed to mitigate the low thermal conductivity issue of PCMs. Specifically, through the in-situ reduction method, the copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) are firstly deposited on the surface and in the pore channels of the carrier (i.e., diatomite). Then the Cu-deposited diatomite was used to encapsulate paraffin as PCM to prepare composite phase change materials (CPCMs). The latent heat of the prepared CPCMs reached 78.6 J/g, and the associated thermal conductivity reached 0.561 W m−1 K−1, which is 97.5 % and 48.9 % higher than that of paraffin and paraffin/diatomite, respectively. Compared with the traditional method of simply adding thermal conductive particles, the proposed in-situ deposition method is more effective owing to the reduced contact thermal resistance between the interfaces of different materials. The prepared CPCM was an ideal candidate for energy storage due to its high latent heat, good thermal conductivity, appropriate phase change temperature, good shape stability, thermal stability, and thermal reliability. As such, the study results provide a new, low-cost and effective method for the thermal conductivity enhancement of CPCMs.

Objective To explore the prognostic value of serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).Materials and Methods IL-17 and VEGF levels were determined by a commercially available ELISA method.Results Serum IL-17 and VEGF levels were higher in the SCLC group than the control group (p<0.001 and p<0.0001, respectively). In addition, there was a significant correlation between IL-17 and VEGF. The level of IL-17 showed significant correlations with tumor stage and tumor metastasis, while serum VEGF levels were significantly associated only with tumor metastasis. Univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that an elevated IL-17 level was an independent prognostic factor for shorter overall survival in SCLC.Conclusions IL-17 may play an important role in tumor dissemination in SCLC patients and measurement of IL-17 could have useful prognostic value for worse overall survival in patients with SCLC.

The intermittency and discontinuity of solar energy lead to its limited utilisation efficiency. Phase change material (PCM)-based energy storage technology is capable of mitigating this issue by exploiting its large latent heat and nearly constant phase change temperature. However, its leakage problem has largely impeded its practical application. Among the methods for solving the leakage problem, using minerals to encapsulate PCMs has been intensively investigated and proved to be an important and effective solution because minerals possess desirable properties of low cost, large specific surface area, high porosity, and chemical inertness. This review, therefore, summarises and discusses the practical effects of three typical minerals (graphite, diatomite, and perlite) on the preparation, properties, and application of mineral-based form-stable PCMs (FSPCMs). Furthermore, we highlight the application of mineral-based FSPCM and discuss the future of the field. This review provides a clearer understanding of the preparation, properties, and application of various mineral-based FSPCMs and will help advance the development of mineral-based FSPCMs.

Background: There are few randomised prospective data or guidelines for the treatment of neuroendocrine cervical cancer (NECC). In addition, the role of radiotherapy (RT) in NECC remains controversial. We used the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database to investigate the role of RT for the treatment of NECC. Particular attention was paid to the different role of RT in patients with or without a metastasis (M1 or M0).Methods: The SEER database was queried for studies on NECC. We limited the year of diagnosis to the years 2000 to 2015. A Pearson’s two-sided Chi-squared test, the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis models were used for statistical analyses. The overall survival (OS) was studied for the overall group and between-subgroup groups.Results: NECC was an aggressive disease with a mean OS of only 46.3 months (range of 0–196 months, median of 23 months). No significant differences were shown between the surgery (S) and S + RT groups (p= 0.146) in the M0 (without metastasis) arm. However, there was a statistically significant difference in OS between the S and S + RT groups in the M1 (with metastasis) arm (median of 44.6 months for the S group and 80.9 months for the S + RT group), p= 0.004. The mean survival was significantly longer for M0 patients than for M1 patients when treated with S only (S arm), that is, 82.1 months versus 44.6 months, respectively (log-rank p= 0.000). We also noted that when patients received adjuvant RT (S + RT arm), there were no significant differences between the M0 and M1 groups (median of 90.6 and 81.0 months, p= 0.704, respectively). Age at diagnosis, chemotherapy, T stage and N stage were significant factors for OS in the M0 arm. Interestingly, radiotherapy was the only significant factor for OS with a multivariate HR for death of 0.502 (95% CI 0.206–0.750, p= 0.006) in the M1 arm.Conclusions: RT may be carefully used in patients who are negative for metastases. Using SEER data, we identified a significant survival advantage with the combination of radiotherapy and surgery in NECC with metastases. This suggests that active local treatment should be conducted and has a significant impact on OS, even if a distant metastasis has occurred.

Giardia duodenalisand Cryptosporidiumspp. are common human and animal pathogens. They have increasingly been reported in dairy calves in recent years; however, multilocus genotyping information for G. duodenalisand Cryptosporidiuminfecting pre-weaned dairy calves in southwestern China is limited. In the present study, the prevalence of G. duodenalisand Cryptosporidiumspp. in pre-weaned dairy calves in central Sichuan province was determined and the pathogens were analyzed molecularly. Of 278 fecal samples from pre-weaned dairy calves, 26 (9.4%) were positive for G. duodenalisand 40 (14.4%) were positive for Cryptosporidiumspp. Cryptosporidium bovis(n= 28), Cryptosporidium ryanae(n= 5) and Cryptosporidium parvum(n= 7) were detected. All seven C. parvumisolates were successfully subtyped based on the gp60gene sequence, and only IIdA15G1 was detected. Multilocus sequence typing of G. duodenalisbased on beta-giardin (bg), triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) and glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) genes revealed 19 different assemblage E multilocus genotypes (two known and 17 unpublished genotypes). Based on eBURST analysis, a high degree of genetic diversity within assemblage E was observed in pre-weaned dairy calves in Sichuan province. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study using multilocus sequence typing and eBURST analysis to characterize G. duodenalisin pre-weaned dairy calves in southwestern China.

The larval stage of Taenia pisiformis, also known as Cysticercus pisiformis, is the causative agent of cysticercosis and the cause of severe health problems in rabbits that negatively impacts on husbandry production. To date, there is no fast detection method to identify early infections in rabbits. In the present study, a new dot-ELISA-based on an endogenous antigen fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) was developed for the detection of cysticercosis, and its potential was then evaluated using test serum samples. Immunolocalisation showed that T. pisiformis FABP(TpFABP) localised to the parenchyma of the bladder wall of the cysticercus and perinuclear cytoplasm of parenchyma of the adult parasite. After cloning and expression, recombinant TpFABP(rTpFABP) protein was used for serodiagnosis of T. pisiformisinfection in rabbits by dot-ELISA. The antibody was detected 14 days post-infection in rabbits experimentally infected with T. pisiformis. Based on the necropsy results, the sensitivity and specificity of 169 serum samples tested by rTpFABPdot-ELISA were found to be 98.2% (54/55) and 92.1% (105/114), respectively. These data suggest that the dot-ELISA developed in this study has potential for detection of T. pisiformisinfection in rabbits.