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Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) shows promise as a regenerative modality for mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction (ED). However, its efficacy in treating severe ED remains unknown. Blood samples from 8-week-old male rats were used to prepare PRP through a two-step centrifugation procedure, followed by chitosan activation and freeze thaw cycle. A hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy)-related ED model was established using a methionine-enriched diet, and an apomorphine (APO) test was conducted during the 4th week. APO-negative rats were divided into two groups and were injected with PRP or saline every 2 weeks. Erectile function and histological analyses of the corpus cavernosum were performed during the 16th week. The results revealed that erectile function was significantly impaired in rats with HHcy-related ED compared to that in age-matched rats but was improved by repeated PRP injections. Immunofluorescence staining revealed a reduction in reactive oxygen species and additional benefits on the recovery of structures within the corpus cavernosum in rats that received PRP treatment compared to those in the saline-injected control group. Therefore, PRP could enhance functional and structural recovery in a severe HHcy-related ED model. A notable strength of the present study lies in the use of a repeated intracavernous injection method, mirroring protocols used in human studies, which offers more reliable results for translating the findings to humans.

Perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have garnered extraordinary attention in displaying field owing to their excellent luminescence properties. Although exogenous additives are extensively employed for optimizing PeLEDs, their comprehensive regulation including side effects still lacks in‐depth study. Here for the first time, it is demonstrated that the deprotonation degree of additives significantly influences the performance of blue PeLEDs. Benzenesulfonic acid (BSA) and ammonium benzenesulfonate (ABS) with similar molecular structures while distinctly different acid dissociation constants (pKa) are used for modifying blue perovskites. By comparison, high‐pKa ABS holds greater potential in boosting device performance, contributing to an improved peak external quantum efficiency of 18.8%. This discrepancy is ascribed to the fact that low‐pKa BSA is prone to induce prominent perovskite chlorine loss owing to its intense deprotonation, while high‐pKa ABS significantly suppresses chlorine vacancy formation. Meanwhile, the adsorption energy of organic spacer onto perovskite is greatly reduced due to the strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding with ABS, contributing to a concentrated phase arrangement for smooth exciton energy transfer. Additionally, ABS modification further suppresses trap‐mediated nonradiative recombination by coordinating with the undercoordinated lead (II) ions at grain boundaries. This work provides valuable guidelines for optimizing additive screening toward high‐performance blue PeLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) still remain poorly developed due to the big challenge of achieving high-quality mixed-halide perovskites with wide optical bandgaps. Halide exchange is an effective scheme to tune the emission color of PeLEDs, while making perovskites susceptible to high defect density due to solvent erosion. Herein, we propose a versatile strategy for nondestructive in-situ halide exchange to obtain high-quality blue perovskites with low trap density and tunable bandgaps through long alkyl chain chloride incorporated chloroform post-treatment. In comparison with conventional halide exchange method, the ionic exchange mechanism of the present strategy is similar to a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution process, which simultaneously modulates perovskite bandgaps and inhibits new halogen vacancy generation. Consequently, efficient PeLEDs across blue spectral regions are obtained, exhibiting external quantum efficiencies of 23.6% (sky-blue emission at 488 nm), 20.9% (pure-blue emission at 478 nm), and 15.0% (deep-blue emission at 468 nm), respectively. Zhang et al. report non-destructive halide exchange by employing butylammonium halide incorporated post-treatment to achieve perovskite with low trap density and tuneable bandgap for blue LEDs, with external quantum efficiencies of 23.6%, 20.9%, and 15.5% for emission peaks at 488, 478, and 468 nm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) are crucial avenues for achieving full‐color displays and lighting based on perovskite materials. However, the relatively low external quantum efficiency (EQE) has hindered their progression towards commercial applications. Quasi‐two‐dimensional (quasi‐2D) perovskites stand out as promising candidates for blue PeLEDs, with optimized control over low‐dimensional phases contributing to enhanced radiative properties of excitons. Herein, the impact of organic molecular dopants on the crystallization of various n‐phase structures in quasi‐2D perovskite films. The results reveal that the highly reactive bis(4‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)phosphine oxide (BTF‐PPO) molecule could effectively restrain the formation of organic spacer cation‐ordered layered perovskite phases through chemical reactions, simultaneously passivate those uncoordinated Pb2+ defects. Consequently, the prepared PeLEDs exhibited a maximum EQE of 16.6 % (@ 490 nm). The finding provides a new route to design dopant molecules for phase modulation in quasi‐2D PeLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal halide perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) are gaining increasing attention as a promising candidate for the new‐generation display technology. Although tremendous progress has been witnessed in this field, the device performance of blue PeLEDs still lags far behind that of the green and red counterparts. In this work, an effective interfacial engineering is employed to boost the radiative recombination of blue perovskite film by introducing a multifunctional tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) network on the grain‐growth substrate. Benefitting from the strong interaction between the TEOS molecule and perovskite nuclei, the perovskite crystallization dynamics are effectively regulated, contributing to significantly improved emitting film with uniformly distributed halogen and concentrated low‐dimensional domain. Additionally, the TEOS network can distinctly passivate the crystal defects at the buried perovskite interface owing to its adequate electron‐donating sites. Consequently, the target blue PeLEDs featuring a stable emission peak at 488 nm exhibit a champion external quantum efficiency of 17.3%, which is among the highest values to date. The results demonstrate the critical role of the surface molecular characteristics of the grain‐growth substrate in regulating the mixed‐halide blue perovskite crystallization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between sites A, B and X with passivation molecules is restricted when the conventional passivation strategy is applied in perovskite (ABX3) photovoltaics. Fortunately, the revolving A-site presents an opportunity to strengthen this interaction by utilizing an external field. Herein, we propose a novel approach to achieving an ordered magnetic dipole moment, which is regulated by a magnetic field via the coupling effect between the chiral passivation molecule and the A-site (formamidine ion) in perovskites. This strategy can increase the molecular interaction energy by approximately four times and ensure a well-ordered molecular arrangement. The quality of the deposited perovskite film is significantly optimized with inhibited nonradiative recombination. It manages to reduce the open-circuit voltage loss of photovoltaic devices to 360 mV and increase the power conversion efficiency to 25.22%. This finding provides a new insight into the exploration of A-sites in perovskites and offers a novel route to improving the device performance of perovskite photovoltaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The substrates of conventional flexible perovskite solar cells (FPSCs) are thermoplastic polymer material polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), which will deform during high temperature annealing process. In addition, lead iodide (PbI2) permanently formed and the substrate undergoes reversible deformation from 20 °C to 200 °C and back to 20 °C. Therefore, to balance the substrate supporting capacity and the crystalline quality of narrow band gap α‐phase formamidinium lead iodide (α‐FAPbI3), an annealing process of 120 °C for 30 minutes is determined. Additionally, there will also be a large number of gaps and lattice strain at the perovskite grain boundaries during the annealing process as the FAPbI3 phase transition is accompanied by much lattice shrinkage. As a result, 1,6‐hexanediammonium diiodide (HADI) is chosen to passivate the defects and release the stress of perovskite film. Therefore, a recorded 1.4% extended stretch rate of the flexible film is attained. Finally, the champion PCE of 21.14% under AM 1.5G and 31.52% under 1062 lux is achieved after HADI treatment, accompanied by a better long‐term and mechanical stability. This study provides annealing process optimization and stress relief strategies for the further development of narrow band gap FPSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative real time PCR (RT-qPCR) has emerged as an accurate and sensitive method to measure the gene expression. However, obtaining reliable result depends on the selection of reference genes which normalize differences among samples. In this study, we assessed the expression stability of seven reference genes, namely, ubiquitin-protein ligase UBC9 (UBC), tubulin alpha-5 (TUBLIN), eukaryotic translation initiation factor (EIF-5A), translation elongation factor EF1A (EF1α), translation elongation factor EF1B (EF1b), actin11 (ACTIN), and histone H3 (HIS), in Iris. lactea var. chinensis (I. lactea var. chinensis) root when the plants were subjected to cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and salt stress conditions. All seven reference genes showed a relatively wide range of threshold cycles (Ct) values in different samples. GeNorm and NormFinder algorithms were used to assess the suitable reference genes. The results from the two software units showed that EIF-5A and UBC were the most stable reference genes across all of the tested samples, while TUBLIN was unsuitable as internal controls. I. lactea var. chinensis is tolerant to Cd, Pb, and salt. Our results will benefit future research on gene expression in response to the three abiotic stresses.

The main reason for large energy loss in all‐inorganic perovskites is ascribed to the slow nucleation and fast crystallization of all‐inorganic perovskite films. Herein, a manipulating strategy is demonstrated to simultaneously realize rapid nucleation and slow crystal growth of CsPbI3 perovskite films by employing solvent molecular sieves in the antisolvent. First, the antisolvent treatment of mixed chlorobenzene and ethyl alcohol can induce the instantaneous supersaturation of perovskites to achieve rapid nucleation. Subsequently, the molecular layer of phthalimide (2‐N) molecules on the perovskite surface can be used as solvent molecular sieves to precisely control the evaporation of the solvent through molecule–solvent interactions. In addition, the molecules remaining on the surface can also effectively passivate the surface defects and improve the device performance. By this strategy, a synchronous regulation of rapid nucleation and slow crystal growth of perovskite films is realized for the first time. As a result, the CsPbI3 film with 2‐N treatment presents high‐quality crystallinity with large grains and less defects. The champion device exhibits an outdoor power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 20.14% under AM1.5G illumination, and an indoor PCE up to 40.07% (Pout:133.9 µW cm–2) under a commonly used light‐emitting diode light source (2956 K, 1062 lux). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective utilization of self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) has indeed resulted in significant improvement in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the poor interface contact between self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) and perovskite layers limits the further improvement of inverted PSCs. Herein, polyaniline is employed as a conductive adhesive, enabling interaction with the perovskite and simultaneous coupling with the SAM, to optimize the buried interface contact. Furthermore, the adhesive strategy is validated to alleviate residual tensile strain at the buried interface using the non‐destructive back grazing‐incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (BGIWAXS) technique. As a result, the optimized inverted PSCs achieve a champion PCE of 25.59% with impressive stability by retaining 97.3% of its initial efficiency after 1200 h under ambient conditions and light‐emitting diode illumination. The findings provide a facial adhesive bridging strategy to play more impressive functions in the SAM‐based inverted PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of exogenous glutathione (GSH) and L-buthionine-S,R-sulphoximine (BSO, an inhibitor of GSH and phytochelatin (PCs) synthesis) on lead (Pb) accumulation, translocation and growth of Iris lactea var. chinensis under Pb stress were investigated. The addition of 150 mg-L-1 GSH obviously enhances Pb accumulation and translocation to shoots in I. lactea var. chinensis compared with the single Pb stress and BSO addition. The growth inhibitions were not intense after GSH treatment, even though Pb kept high accumulation in roots and shoots, suggesting that Pb may be effectively detoxified under Pb together with GSH treatment. The cell ultrastructural examination of Pb in I. lactea var. chinensis supported the facts that exogenous application of GSH may alleviate Pb harm. In order to clarify the role of non-protein thiols (NPTs) in Pb toxicity, accumulation and translocation, the dynamic variations of Pb contents and NPT synthesis of PCs, GSH and cysteine (Cys) in I. lactea var. chinensis were analyzed under Pb (100-500 mg-L-1) treatment for 1-7 days. PC2 formation could be induced only in the roots, and the contents in roots enhanced gradually with increasing Pb concentrations in solutions and exposure time. The concentrations of shoot GSH also enhanced gradually, but GSH in roots showed a slight decline when exposed to 300 and 500 mg-L-1 Pb after 4 and 7 days. Cys showed induction at lower Pb level and initial stress, followed by decline. The correlation analysis between Pb accumulation and the synthesis of NPTs suggested that Pb in the roots of I. lactea var. chinensis may mainly be detoxified through chelation with PC2. while GSH may mainly serve as the role of promoting and transporting Pb to aboveground and detoxification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed at investigating effects of lead (Pb) (30 and 300 mg L-1) stress on growth, Pb accumulation, antioxidative responses of Iris lactea var. chinensis over a 2-month period by hydroponic culture. The results show that the production rate of superoxide radical (O2-) and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the leaves of I. lactea var. chinensis seedlings under 30 mg L-1 Pb stress remained almost unchanged, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation decreased as compared to the control whereas the activities of antioxidant enzymes and the contents of antioxidants investigated in shoots and roots increased. At the same time, low Pb concentrations promoted the growth of I. lactea var. chinensis seedlings. These results suggested that I. lactea var. chinensis had a strong oxidative ability to moderate Pb stress while high Pb levels (300 mg L-1) provoked oxidative stress and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities, especially those in the roots. In addition, high bioaccumulation of Pb was accompanied by an obvious decrease in dry weight. However, catalase (CAT) activities and glutathione (GSH) contents in shoots and roots exposed to 300 mg L-1 Pb were higher than the control. Therefore, CAT and GSH might play a major defense role in Pb detoxification when exposed to high Pb stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Pb and Zn combined stress on growth and Pb, Zn, Cu and Mn contents in the different parts of the seedlings of Iris halophila Pall, and I. pseudacorus L. were studied in pot culture. The results showed that Pb contents in the aboveground and underground parts of Iris halophila at 10 mmol·kg-1 Pb reached to 411 μg·g-1 and 2020 μg·g-1, respectively, and Zn contents, 3588 μg·g-1 and 2285 μg·g-1, respectively, at the combined treatment of 5 mmol·kg-1 Pb and 50mmol·kg-1 Zn. Pb contents in the aboveground and underground parts of I. pseudacorus at 10mmol·kg-1 Pb reached to 382μg·g-1 and 1671μg·g-1, respectively, and Zn contents, 2603μg·g-1 and 3908μg·g-1, respectively, at the combined treatment of 10mmol·kg-1 Pb and 50mmol·kg-1 Zn. Mn and Cu contents in both species presented a corresponding increase as single Pb levels enhanced and Mn contents decreased as Zn concentrations increased. The numbers and lengths of leaves and roots, and biomasses of both species were decreased significantly due to the large amount of Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu in the plants treated under 10 mmol kg-1Pb and 50 mmol kg-1Zn combined stress. The growths and developments of I. pseudacorus were effected more serious than those of I. halophilia. The negative correlation between the growth and the contents of Zn was found much more obvious than between the growth and the contents of Pb in two species of Iris L., which indicated that Zn was more toxic than that of Pb to the seedlings of I. pseudacorus and I. halophila. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An in situ study was conducted to evaluate the Cu up- take and distribution in two Iris L. species, namely Iris lactea var. chinensis (Fisch.) Koidz. and I. pseudacorus L. grown on abandoned tailings. The biomass and tiller were measured and the Cu contents in the different parts of plants and in the rhizosphere tailing were determined using atomic absorption spectrometer. The dry weights (DWs) of shoots, rhizomes and roots of I. lactea var. chinensis and I. pseudacorus increased significantly during growth period. New tillers of both species were formed after 150 d. Cu concentrations in roots, rhizomes and shoots of I. lactea var. chinensis were 306, 182 and 101 μg·g-1, respectively after 150d grown in the tailing. And the Cu concentrations in the roots, rhizomes and shoots of I. pseudacorus were 251, 126 and 95 μg·g-1, respectively for the same time period. The present study indicated that both I. lactea var. chinensis and I. pseudacorus could uptake Cu from the tailing effectively and the phytoremediation by using I. pseudacorus for Cu tailings worked better than I. lactea var. chinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seedling development and physiological responses of Iris pseudacorus L. to Pb and Cu and their combination were studied for 18 days in liquid culture. The results showed that the dry weights (DWs) of both roots and shoots decreased at 20 mg L-1 Cu and 200 mg L-1 Pb + 20 mg L-1 Cu treatments. The DWs of roots and shoots treated with 20 mg L-1Cu were dropped to 38 and 32% of the control, respectively. However, the DWs of roots and shoots did not show any significant change under single Pb treatment. The contents of total chlorophylls in the leaves treated with 200 mg L-1Pb + 20 mg L-1Cu decreased significantly compared with that of control. The cellular conductivities of the roots and shoots under 20 mg L-1Cu stress and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the roots and shoots in the treat-ments of 20 mg L-1Cu and 200 mg L-1 Pb + 20 mg L-1 Cu increased significantly. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in the roots and shoots treated with 20 mg L-1 Cu and 200 mg L-1Pb + 20 mg L-1 Cu were significantly higher than that of the control. The proline contents in roots and shoots under 20 mg L-1 Cu mostly increased to 4 and 27 times of the control. The contents of total chlorophylls and MDA in the roots and shoots were not significantly different from the control. The results indicate that SOD and proline play important role in resisting the Cu, Pb and Cu combination stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seedling development and physiological responses of Iris pseudacorus L. to Pb and Cd and their combination were studied for 28 days liquid culture and sub-cellular localization of Pb and Cd in the root tip cells treated with 2,070 mg L-1 Pb and 1,000 mg L-1Cd for 16 days sand culture was evaluated. Results showed that the dry weights (DWs) of shoots and roots of I. pseudacorus were significantly decreased at 500 mg L-1Pb and 25 mg L-1Cd + 500 mg L-1Pb treatments and the root DWs under all treatments were significantly decreased in comparison with that of control. The concentrations of Chla in the leaves were decreased at all treatments, while, the concentrations of Chlb and total carotenoids were not significantly decreased under 25 mg L-1Cd and 25 mg L-1Cd + 500 mg L-1Pb treatments. The MDA and proline concentrations and POD activities in the shoots and roots were increased under treatments of 500 mg L-1Pb and 25 mg L-1Cd + 500 mg L-1Pb, but POD activities in the shoots and roots and MDA concentrations in the shoots were significantly decreased at 25 mg L-1 Cd treatment. The results of sub-cellular localization of Pb and Cd showed that numerous Pb deposits were found on the inner surface of died cell walls in the cortex treated with 2,070 mg L-1 Pb and Cd deposits were found in the cell wall treated with 1,000 mg L-1 Cd. Pb and Cd deposits were not found in the cytoplasm. The results indicated that POD and proline showed strong beneficial properties against Pb and Cd stress and there were some mechanisms keeping most cells with normal activities in the plant from Pb toxicity by sacrificing a few cells that accumulated a large amount Pb. Sub-cellular localizations of Pb and Cd in the root tip cells of I. pseudacorus were little difference with the localizations in other species of Iris in the previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seedling development, accumulation and distribution of lead (Pb) in Iris lactea var. chinensis (Fisch.) Koidz. and I. tectorum Maxim. were studied using plants grown in sand culture and exposed to 0-10 mmol l-1 concentrations of Pb supplied as Pb NO3)2 for 28 days. A significant reduction in dry weight (dw) of shoots and roots of I. lactea var. chinensis was observed at 6 and 10 mmol l-1, respectively, and a significant reduction in dw of shoots and roots of I. tectorum was observed at 6 mmol l-1. Concentration of Pb in the shoots and roots of I. lacteal var. chinensis exposed to 4 mmol l-1 Pb reached 1,109 µg g-1 and 2,408 µg g-1 dw, respectively. The index of tolerance (IT) of I. lactea var. chinensis among 0- 8 mmol l-1 Pb treatments were not significantly different, while those of I. tectorum at 6 mmol l-1 Pb were significantly decreased. The results indicated that I. lactea var. chinensis was more tolerant to Pb than I. tectorum. Subcellular localization of Pb in root cells was evaluated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Pb deposits were found along the plasma membrane of some root tip cells of I. lactea var. chinensis treated at 10 mmol l-1 Pb. Deposits of Pd were also observed along the surface, in the root tip cell wall and in the cytoplasm of a few malformed cells of I. tectorum exposed at 10 mmol l-1 Pb treatment. One possible mechanism to explain these observations may be that most cells can maintain normal activities in the plant by sacrificing a small number of cells that accumulate a large amount Pb and show toxicity. Future studies should be designed to test this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]