On the Understandings of Dielectric Constant and Its Impacts on the Photovoltaic Efficiency in Organic Solar Cells

Dielectric constant(ε)is an important parameter affecting the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells(OSC).Increasingεof bulk heterojunctions in general can benefit the performance of OSCs,as an increasedεwill reduce the influence of Coulomb interaction between weakly bound electron-hole pairs on charge-transfer states or bimolecular recombination involving mobile carriers to reduce geminate and nongeminate losses.In this review,we overview the current understandings on dielectric constant and its impacts on exciton dissociation and voltage losses in OSCs and summarize recent efforts attempting to modify the dielectric properties of OSC materials through synthetic approaches.We further discuss the commonly adopted techniques for determining the parameter ofεwith stressing the testing conditions that may affect the accuracy of results.At last,we suggest that novel experimental methods to improve the dielectric constant and resultant physical processes in OSCs will be appreciated,which helps enrich the existing strategy reservoir toward enhancement of photovoltaic efficiencies.     

New Diterpenoid Alkaloids from Delphinium Souliei Franch

Inourpreviouspapers'-',wehavereportedtheisolationandelucidationofaseriesofnewditerpenoidalkaloidsfromDelphinillnlsolllieiFranch.ContinuedphytochemcalinvestigationsontheconstituentsofthisplanthaveledtotheisolationoftwoothernewditerpenoidalkaloidssoulineE(l)andsoulineF(2).SoulineE(2.6mg)wasobtainedascolorlesscrystals,mpf77-78'C(fromethanol).[a]."8.0(c=0.05,CHCI;).itsmolecularformulaC,=H;,NO,wasderivedfromHkEIMS(M-f361.2613,cafe.361.2608).TheiHnmrspectrum(400MHz)exhibitedthefollowingsign…     

Gamma spectrum analysis for in situ automatic monitoring of radioactivity in seawater

The NaI(Tl) detector has been an important research topic and application in the field of in situ marine radioactive automatic monitoring because of its advantages of low power consumption, low cost, and good efficiency. However, its energy resolution is not high enough. This paper investigated an analytical method: spectrum de-noising, background correction based on the SNIP operator, peak search based on the top-hat transform and peak fitting using Gaussian distribution. Simulation and gamma spectra measured from seawater showed that the established energy spectrum analysis method presents satisfactory automatic analytical ability for identification and quantitatively analysis.

     

Multiplex metal-detection based assay (MMDA) for COVID-19 diagnosis and identification of disease severity biomarkers

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 highlights the urgent need to develop sensitive methods for diagnosis and prognosis. To achieve this, multidimensional detection of SARS-CoV-2 related parameters including virus loads, immune response, and inflammation factors is crucial. Herein, by using metal-tagged antibodies as reporting probes, we developed a multiplex metal-detection based assay (MMDA) method as a general multiplex assay strategy for biofluids. This strategy provides extremely high multiplexing capability (theoretically over 100) compared with other reported biofluid assay methods. As a proof-of-concept, MMDA was used for serologic profiling of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The MMDA exhibits significantly higher sensitivity and specificity than ELISA for the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. By integrating the high dimensional data exploration/visualization tool (tSNE) and machine learning algorithms with in-depth analysis of multiplex data, we classified COVID-19 patients into different subgroups based on their distinct antibody landscape. We unbiasedly identified anti-SARS-CoV-2-nucleocapsid IgG and IgA as the most potently induced types of antibodies for COVID-19 diagnosis, and anti-SARS-CoV-2-spike IgA as a biomarker for disease severity stratification. MMDA represents a more accurate method for the diagnosis and disease severity stratification of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as for biomarker discovery of other diseases.

A MMDA platform is developed by using metal-tagged antibodies as reporting probes combined with machine learning algorithms, as a general strategy for highly multiplexed biofluid assay.     

MiR-1224-5p modulates osteogenesis by coordinating osteoblast/osteoclast differentiation via the Rap1 signaling target ADCY2

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) broadly regulate normal biological functions of bone and the progression of fracture healing and osteoporosis. Recently, it has been reported that miR-1224-5p in fracture plasma is a potential therapy for osteogenesis. To investigate the roles of miR-1224-5p and the Rap1 signaling pathway in fracture healing and osteoporosis development and progression, we used BMMs, BMSCs, and skull osteoblast precursor cells for in vitro osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis studies. Osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis were detected by ALP, ARS, and TRAP staining and bone slice resorption pit assays. The miR-1224-5p target gene was assessed by siRNA-mediated target gene knockdown and luciferase reporter assays. To explore the Rap1 pathway, we performed high-throughput sequencing, western blotting, RT-PCR, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays and immunohistochemical staining. In vivo, bone healing was judged by the cortical femoral defect, cranial bone defect and femoral fracture models. Progression of osteoporosis was evaluated by an ovariectomy model and an aged osteoporosis model. We discovered that the expression of miR-1224-5p was positively correlated with fracture healing progression. Moreover, in vitro, overexpression of miR-1224-5p slowed Rankl-induced osteoclast differentiation and promoted osteoblast differentiation via the Rap1-signaling pathway by targeting ADCY2. In addition, in vivo overexpression of miR-1224-5p significantly promoted fracture healing and ameliorated the progression of osteoporosis caused by estrogen deficiency or aging. Furthermore, knockdown of miRNA-1224-5p inhibited bone regeneration in mice and accelerated the progression of osteoporosis in elderly mice. Taken together, these results identify miR-1224-5p as a key bone osteogenic regulator, which may be a potential therapeutic target for osteoporosis and fracture nonunion.Subject terms: Translational research, Cell signalling     

Synthesis and characterization of ABA-type block copolymer of poly(trimethylene carbonate) with poly(ethylene glycol): Bioerodible copolymer

ABA-type block copolymers of poly(trimethylene carbonate) with poly(ethylene glycol) (M_n 6820), PTMC-b-PEG-b-PTMC, were synthesized by the ring-opening polymerization of 1,3-dioxan-2-one (trimethylene carbonate) in the presence of poly-(ethylene glycol) with stannous octoate catalyst, and the copolymers with various compositions were obtained. The PTMC-b-PEG-b-PTMC copolymers were characterized with Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The intrinsic viscosities of resulting copolymers increased with the increase of 1,3-dioxan-2-one content in feed while the molar ratio of monomer over catalyst kept constant. It has been observed that the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the PTMC segments in copolymers, recorded from differential scanning calorimetry, was dependent on the composition of copolymers. The melting temperature (T_m) of PEG blocks in copolymer was lower than that of PEG polymer, and then disappeared as the length of PTMC blocks increased. The results of dynamic contact angle measurement clearly revealed that the hydrophilicity of resulting copolymers increased greatly with the increase of PEG content in copolymers. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 695–702, 1998     

Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Titanium Dioxide Supported on Hexagonal Mesoporous Silica at Lower Coverage

The photocatalytic activities of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) supported on hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS), zeolite Y (NaY) were investigated by using the photodegradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) as test reactions. It was found that the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ on HMS was much higher than that of TiO₂ powders, and that of TiO₂ on NaY. It was also found that TiO₂/HMS had maximal photocatalytic activity at a lower Ti content. The larger the pore size of HMS used as the support of TiO₂, the better the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ for degradating of organic pollutant. These observations suggested that the supported structure was a main factor responsible for enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂. Characterization of the samples by TEM, XRD, BET, and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra indicated that the structures of HMS and TiO₂ were confirmed and TiO₂ did not enter into the HMS framework and was formed as nanoparticles on all supports.     

钯催化下共轭二烯二炔官能团的构成

制备了一系列共轭烯炔化合物以及卤代烯炔化合物,并利用它们在钯催化下交叉偶联构成了与环戊烯共轭骈连的烯二炔即共轭的二烯二炔结构。此结构为抗肿瘤抗生素C-1027发色团和kedarcidin发色团所共有;同时探讨了它们在钯催化下交叉偶连的性质,发现共轭的卤代烯炔与共轭的端炔交叉偶连的趋势为:碘代烯>溴代烯>氯代烯。     

Determination of chlorpyrifos in soils using multi-throughput dynamic microwave-assisted extraction coupled online with salting-out-assisted liquid–liquid extraction followed by LC–MS/MS

A simple and rapid method based on multi-throughput dynamic microwave-assisted extraction coupled online with salting-out-assisted liquid–liquid extraction was developed for the analysis of chlorpyrifos in soil. First, the chlorpyrifos was extracted with acetonitrile aqueous (50%, v/v) under the action of microwave energy. Then the obtained extract was separated clearly and easily into an acetonitrile phase and an aqueous phase with the assistance of ammonium acetate. The acetonitrile phase containing chlorpyrifos was concentrated and determined by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The effects of parameters on extraction efficiency including microwave power, extraction solvent, volumes and flow rate of extraction solvent, sample pH, types and amount of salt were studied and optimised. To eliminate the matrix effect, validation of the method was carried out using the matrix-based calibration curve. The limits of detection and quantification for chlorpyrifos were 0.17 and 0.5 ng g^?1, respectively. The proposed method was applied to analyse chlorpyrifos in five soil samples and verified by the recovery test. The recoveries of chlorpyrifos at three spiked levels (5, 50, 200 ng g^?1) were in the range of 90.0–100.5%, with relative standard deviations varying from 1.3% to 5.7%. Compared with the methods reported previously, the proposed method can simplify the operation procedure and reduce solvent consumption in sample pretreatment.     

Metal-free and selective cleavage of unstrained carbon–carbon single bonds: Synthesis of β-ketosulfones from β-chlorohydrins and sodium sulfinates

A metal-free protocol for the selective cleavage of unstrained C–C single bonds was developed. Under the catalysis of KI and in the presence of NaHCO₃, the readily available α-chloro-β-hydroxy ketones underwent bond breaking and sulfonylation smoothly to afford β-ketosulfones with high efficiency and broad substrate scope. Mechanism investigations, both experimental and theoretical, showed that a retro-aldol cleavage/nucleophilic substitution sequence might be involved.