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[Display omitted] Mixed-halide blue perovskites CsPb(Br/Cl) 3 are considered promising candidates for developing efficient deep-blue perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs), but their low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), environmental instability, and poor device performance gravely inhibit their future development. Here, we employ a heteroatomic Cu2+ doping strategy combined with post-treatment Br− anion exchange to prepare high-performance deep-blue perovskites CsPb(Br/Cl) 3. The Cu2+ doping strategy significantly decreases the intrinsic chlorine defects, ensuring that the inferior CsPbCl 3 quantum dots are transformed into two-dimensional nanosheets with enhanced violet photoluminescence and increased exciton binding energy. Further, with the post-treatment Br− anion exchange, the as-prepared CsPb(Br/Cl) 3 nanosheets with more radiation recombination and less ion migration present an enhanced PLQY of 94% and better humidity stability of 30 days. Based on the optimized CsPb(Br/Cl) 3 , we fabricated deep-blue PeLEDs with luminescence emission at 462 nm, a maximum luminance of 761 cd m−2, and a current density of 205 mA cm−2. This work puts forward a feasible synthesis strategy to prepare efficient and stable mixed-halide blue perovskite CsPb(Br/Cl) 3 and related blue PeLEDs, which may promote the further application of mixed-halide perovskites in the blue light range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Propofol has been demonstrated to improve hepatic perfusion in a rabbit model; however, the effects of propofol on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury are unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine whether propofol has a hepatoprotective effect using an in vivo ischemia/reperfusion model in rabbits. Methods: A total of 48 rabbits were randomly assigned to two groups: a propofol group (0.6 mg·kg−1·min−1) or a control group (10% intralipid, 0.6 mg·kg−1·min−1). Each group was then further divided into three subgroups of 8 rabbits according to the duration (10, 30, and 60 min) of propofol infusion before an ischemic episode was induced by cross-clamping the left hepatic artery and hepatic portal vein. Hepatic ischemia was maintained for 30 min, and the rabbits were monitored for 60 min after reperfusion. Liver enzyme leakage and histopathologic examination were used to evaluate the extent of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury. Results: The serum enzyme levels were the same in all groups before the ischemic episode. After the induction of ischemia/reperfusion, the liver enzymes were significantly increased in all rabbits compared with baseline values (P < 0.05). Propofol significantly decreased the leakage of liver enzymes and markedly reduced lesions in histologic examination of the liver compared with the control group (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found in serum enzyme levels among the three subgroups in the propofol group. Conclusions: Propofol reduced hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in an in vivo rabbit model; however, the duration of propofol infusion before the ischemic insult did not influence its hepatoprotective effects or the extent of hepatic injury. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Turbulence is considered to be the result of coupled time-averaged and pulsating velocities, making it difficult to distinguish the respective effects, and the quantitative effect of turbulent pulsation alone on mass transfer within biofilms has not been discussed in the literature. In this study, we constructed a special oscillating grid biofilm reactor combining Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to achieve nearly isotropic turbulence in a designed ambient without time-averaged velocity and shear stress. Subsequently, velocity and contaminant concentration distributions were obtained by solving a mass transfer model with a k-ε turbulence model, combined with measurements of biofilm structure parameters. The results showed that the increase in turbulent pulsation intensity led to a significant stratification of the percolation velocity gradient in biofilms, which enhanced convective mass transfer. The changes of biofilm density and porosity under turbulent pulsation were more strongly correlated with convective mass transfer. When the turbulent intensity (q) increased to 2.50 cm s−1, the removal rate reached the highest value of 96.93%, accelerating the migration of contaminant concentration and the diffusive mass transfer effect was obvious. In addition, the trend of biofilm thickness under turbulent pulsation was consistent with the change of contaminant concentration distribution, and the correlation between them was greater. In summary, at q of 2.50 cm s−1, there was a positive effect on both convection and diffusion mechanisms in biofilms, and the contaminant removal rate and biofilm thickness reached the maximum, which was the recommended turbulent pulsation conditions. • Oscillating grid reactor to generate pulsating turbulence without mean velocity and shear stress. • Combining field Particle Image Velocimetry and Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation to obtain statistical characteristics of turbulence. • User-Defined Function of Fluent software to achieve numerical solution of biofilm mass transfer equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by abnormal β-amyloid and tau accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and synaptic dysfunction. Here, we aimed to assess the mechanisms and signalling pathways in the neuroprotective effect of gastrodin, a phenolic glycoside, on murine neuroblastoma N2a cells expressing human Swedish mutant APP (N2a/APP). We found that gastrodin increased the levels of presynaptic-SNAP, synaptophysin, and postsynaptic-PSD95 and reduced phospho-tau Ser396, APP and Aβ 1-42 levels in N2a/APP cells. Gastrodin treatment reduced reactive oxygen species generation, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial fragmentation and DNA oxidation; restored mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular ATP production. Upregulated phospho-GSK-3β and reduced phospho-ERK and phospho-JNK were involved in the protective effect of gastrodin. In conclusion, we demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of gastrodin in the N2a/APP cell line by ameliorating the impairment on synaptic and mitochondrial function, reducing tau phosphorylation, Aβ 1-42 levels as well as reactive oxygen species generation. These results provide new mechanistic insights into the potential effect of gastrodin in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. [Display omitted] • Gastrodin is neuroprotective in the N2a/APP cell model of Alzheimer's disease. • Effects of gastrodin involve the ERK1/2, GSK-3β and JNK signalling pathways. • Gastrodin ameliorates synaptic, mitochrondrial, ROS damages, modulates APP processing, and tau phosphorylation in N2a/APP cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Using sustainable biowastes to prepare low-cost biochar photocatalysts. • Biochar photocatalysts shows superior responsiveness in oxidation of amine. • Diphenolic groups and pyrene core are the dominant photo-catalytic sites. • Biochar photocatalysts can be at least seven runs (90 % imine yields). Metal-free carbon photocatalysts hold great promise in future visible-light-driven selective photocatalytic organic synthesis. However, designing ideal carbon photocatalysts from sustainable strategies to further improve the photo-efficiency and economic nature is crucial for portable industrial applications. Herein, a clean and economic strategy to fabricate hydrochar microspheres as the first metal-free biochar potocatalysts is reported by a facile hydrothermal post-treatment approach from biowaste. The obtained hydrochars present excellent photocatalytic activity and reusability toward the selective oxidative coupling reactions of various amines under visible-light irradiation. Experimental studies and theoretical calculation revealed that the abundant oxygenated functional groups built-in on the surface could function as photocatalytic active sites. In particular, the diphenolic hydroxyl functional groups and quinone moieties attached to the large π-electronic-system were the main active sites involved in the photocatalytic activity. This research highlights that the utilization of sustainable biowaste-derived hydrochar materials as a low-cost and eco-environmental carbocatalysts, may open up a new avenue for light-driven diverse organic transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehending endangered species' spatial distribution in response to global climate change (GCC) is of great importance for formulating adaptive management, conservation, and restoration plans. However, it is regrettable that previous studies mainly focused on geoclimatic species, while neglected climate-sensitive subterranean taxa to a large extent, which clearly hampered the discovery of universal principles. In view of this, taking the endemic troglophile riverine fish Onychostoma macrolepis (Bleeker, 1871) as an example, we constructed a MaxEnt (maximum-entropy) model to predict how the spatial distribution of this endangered fish would respond to future climate changes (three Global Climate Models × two Shared Socio-economic Pathways × three future time nodes) based on painstakingly collected species occurrence data and a set of bioclimatic variables, including WorldClim and ENVIREM. Model results showed that variables related to temperature rather than precipitation were more important in determining the geographic distribution of this rare and endemic fish. In addition, the suitable areas and their distribution centroids of O. macrolepis would shrink (average: 20,901.75 km2) and move toward the northeast or northwest within the study area (i.e. China). Linking our results with this species' limited dispersion potential and unique habitat requirements (i.e. karst landform is essential), we thus recommended in situ conservation to protect this relict. [Display omitted] • The adverse impacts of global climate change on cavefish were analyzed for the first time. • ENVIREM did not improve the performance of our MaxEnt model. • The spatial distribution of O. macrolepis would shrink and move northeast or northwest in China. • In situ conservation was put forward as the first choice to protect this cavefish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botrytis cinerea is the causal agent of devastating disease gray mold on numerous crops worldwide. To control gray mold, anilinopyrimidine (AP) fungicides have been widely applied since the 1990s. However, the development of resistance in B. cinerea brought a new challenge to this disease control. Due to the unknown mode of action, the mechanism of AP resistance is still ambiguous. In our previous study, mutation E407K in Bcmdl1 was identified to be associated with AP resistance. Since this mutation is the major mechanism of AP resistance in our cases, it is essential to investigate the fitness of E407K strains before designing anti-resistance management strategies. Besides using field-resistant isolates with the E407K mutation, strains with E407K substitution obtained by site-directed mutagenesis were also used to estimate the specific effect of this mutation or substitution on fitness. The fitness of E407K strains were evaluated by determining mycelial growth, sporulation, conidial germination, virulence, acid production, osmotic and oxidative sensitivity, and sclerotial production and viability. Field resistant isolates with E407K mutation produced fewer sclerotia on intermediate medium (IM) but more conidia on PDA when compared with sensitive isolates, whereas site-directed transformants with E407K substitution did not show any fitness costs. The competitive ability of E407K strains was also evaluated on apple fruit using conidial mixtures at three initial ratios of resistant and sensitive isolates at 1:9, 1:1, and 9:1, respectively. Similar with fitness, impaired competitive ability was observed in field resistant isolates but not site-directed transformants at all initial ratios tested. These results indicated that field strains associated with AP resistance suffer a fitness penalty not linked directly to the E407K substitution in Bcmdl1. [Display omitted] • Cyprodinil resistant isolates possessed the E407K mutation in Bcmdl1. • Cyprodinil-resistant isolates suffer fitness penalties not E407K site-drected transformants. This fitness difference is resulted from unknown factors but not E407K mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The evolution of Cyt b genes was systemically studied. [•] Eukaryotic Cyt b genes originated from an ancient prokaryotic gene. [•] Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) from Fungi to Chromista. [•] Eukaryotic Cyt b introns were obtained after the endosymbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome is an important infectious disease of pigs and has a significant harmful effect on the livestock industry, especially in China. PRRSV ORF1b gene encodes primary proteins which play a vital role during PRRSV replication. In this paper, various 12-amino-acid peptides were displayed. These peptides could bind to the polymerase and helicase of PRRSV ORF1b protein, respectively, in which p9 exerted the highest antiviral activity with an IC50 of 56μM, and the minimum toxicity to cells. It was proved that p9 inhibited PRRSV replication in infected MARC-145 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and the amino acid sequence of HRILMRIR was important for antiviral activity of p9. Also, p9 could bind to the cell membrane and penetrated into cells. These result suggested that p9 might be a potential therapeutic drug for PRRSV infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]