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Li‐CO2 batteries could skillfully combine the reduction of “greenhouse effect” with energy storage systems. However, Li‐CO2 batteries still suffer from unsatisfactory electrochemical performances and their rechargeability is challenged. Here, it is reported that a composite of Ni nanoparticles highly dispersed on N‐doped graphene (Ni‐NG) with 3D porous structure, exhibits a superior discharge capacity of 17 625 mA h g−1, as the air cathode for Li‐CO2 batteries. The batteries with these highly efficient cathodes could sustain 100 cycles at a cutoff capacity of 1000 mA h g−1 with low overpotentials at the current density of 100 mA g−1. Particularly, the Ni‐NG cathodes allow to observe the appearance/disappearance of agglomerated Li2CO3 particles and carbon thin films directly upon discharge/charge processes. In addition, the recycle of CO2 is detected through in situ differential electrochemical mass spectrometry. This is a critical step to verify the electrochemical rechargeability of Li‐CO2 batteries. Also, first‐principles computations further prove that Ni nanoparticles are active sites for the reaction of Li and CO2, which could guide to design more advantageous catalysts for rechargeable Li‐CO2 batteries. A composite of Ni nanoparticles highly dispersed on N‐doped graphene is prepared as the air cathode for Li‐CO2 batteries, with high discharge capacity and excellent cyclic stability. The cathode allows to observe the morphological evolution of discharge products directly and reversible consumption and evolution of CO2, and then the reversibility of electrochemical reactions could well be understood in Li‐CO2 batteries.

Fish is an important source of antimicrobial peptides. This study aimed to identify and screen antibacterial peptides with excellent antibacterial activity derived from sturgeon spermary peptides (SSPs) and to analyze their antibacterial activity and mechanism. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry methods were used to analyze and identify peptide sequences, computational prediction tool and molecular docking methods were used for virtual screening of antimicrobial peptides, and finally, candidate peptides were synthesized by solid-phase synthesis method. The results demonstrate that SSPs have excellent inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli with an inhibitory rate of 76.46%. Most parts of the SSPs were derived from the sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) histones, and the coverage of histone H2B was the highest (45%). Two novel peptides (NDEELNKLM and RSSKRRQ) were obtained by in silico prediction tools and molecular docking, which may interact with the DNA gyrase and dihydrofolate reductase of E. coli by forming salt bridges and hydrogen bonds. Compared to the individual peptides, the antibacterial effect was significantly improved by mixing the two peptides in equal proportions. Two novel peptides change the permeability of the E. coli cell membranes and may exert antimicrobial activity by inhibiting the metabolic process of the nucleic acids.

ABSTRACT Sternorrhyncha, a suborder of Hemiptera, comprises sap‐feeding insects with piercing‐sucking mouthparts, most of which are important agricultural and forestry pests, including aphids, psyllids, whiteflies, and scale insects. While the mitochondrial genome is a highly accessible molecular source for high‐level and large‐scale phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive mitochondrial phylogenomic investigation of Sternorrhyncha has been lacking. This deficiency is primarily attributable to the challenges associated with obtaining mitochondrial genomes from Coccoidea. We have constructed the largest mitochondrial dataset for Sternorrhyncha to establish phylogenetic relationships, to examine the interrelationships, and to assess the phylogenetic results. Based on phylogenetic trees and mitogenomic gene arrangement synapomorphies, our findings confirm a sister‐group relationship between Coccoidea and Aphidoidea, and demonstrate the affiliation of Aclerdidae with Coccidae. Additionally, we have examined the mitochondrial gene rearrangements in Sternorrhyncha. Mitochondrial genes in Coccoidea and Aleyrodoidea display a notable prevalence of translocation and a high proportion of positive selection pressures, which correlates with their large species diversity. Conversely, most aphid genes are under negative selection pressure, and pairwise identity analysis reveals relatively modest low variation among aphid lineages, highlighting a paradox of species diversification underlain by conserved mitochondrial genomic changes. We have constructed the largest mitochondrial dataset for Sternorrhyncha to establish phylogenetic relationships. The mitochondrial genes of Coccoidea and Aleyrodoidea exhibit a notable prevalence of translocation and a high proportion of positive selection pressures. In Sternorrhyncha, the region next to the CYTB and ND1‐rrnL‐rrnS gene blocks represents a hotspot for gene translocation events. In our results, aphids have undergone a rapid species diversification decoupled from genetic evolution, leading to a lopsided in species diversity relative to mitochondrial conservativeness.

Pterygium is a prevalent ocular disease characterized by abnormal conjunctival tissue proliferation, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms driving pterygium pathogenesis remain inadequately understood. This study aimed to investigate gene expression changes following pterygium excision and their association with immune cell infiltration. Clinical samples of pterygium and adjacent relaxed conjunctival tissue were collected for transcriptomic analysis using RNA sequencing combined with bioinformatics approaches. Machine learning algorithms, including LASSO, SVM-RFE, and Random Forest, were employed to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers. GO, KEGG, GSEA, and GSVA were utilized for enrichment analysis. Single-sample GSEA was employed to analyze immune infiltration. The GSE2513 and GSE51995 datasets from the GEO database, along with clinical samples, were selected for validation analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from the PRJNA1147595 and GSE2513 datasets, revealing 2437 DEGs and 172 differentially regulated genes (DRGs), respectively. There were 52 co-DEGs shared by both datasets, and four candidate biomarkers ( FN1 , SPRR1B , SERPINB13 , EGR2 ) with potential diagnostic value were identified through machine learning algorithms. Single-sample GSEA demonstrated increased Th2 cell infiltration and decreased CD8 + T cell presence in pterygium tissues, suggesting a crucial role of the immune microenvironment in pterygium pathogenesis. Analysis of the GSE51995 dataset and qPCR results revealed significantly higher expression levels of FN1 and SPRR1B in pterygium tissues compared to conjunctival tissues, but SERPINB13 and EGR2 expression levels were not statistically significant. Furthermore, we identified four candidate drugs targeting the two feature genes FN1 and SPRR1B . This study provides valuable insights into the molecular characteristics and immune microenvironment of pterygium. The identification of potential biomarkers FN1 and SPRR1B highlights their significance in pterygium pathogenesis and lays a foundation for further exploration aimed at integrating these findings into clinical practice.

Highlights The asymmetric side-group strategy was employed to develop a nonfused ring electron acceptor, designated as TT-Ph-C6 , exhibiting enhanced solubility and three-dimensional molecular stacking. Strong π – π interactions optimized blend film morphology, enabling TT-Ph-C6 -based devices to achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.01% and FF of 80.10%, surpassing the 16.78% PCE of symmetric-chain 2BTh-2F. Extended exciton diffusion lengths and accelerated dissociation further endowed TT-Ph-C6 with exceptional thick-film tolerance, delivering 15.18% PCE at 200 nm and 14.64% at 300 nm—among the highest efficiencies reported for non-fused acceptors. A nonfused ring electron acceptor (NFREA), designated as TT-Ph-C6 , has been synthesized with the aim of enhancing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs). By integrating asymmetric phenylalkylamino side groups, TT-Ph-C6 demonstrates excellent solubility and its crystal structure exhibits compact packing structures with a three-dimensional molecular stacking network. These structural attributes markedly promote exciton diffusion and charge carrier mobility, particularly advantageous for the fabrication of thick-film devices. TT-Ph-C6 -based devices have attained a PCE of 18.01% at a film thickness of 100 nm, and even at a film thickness of 300 nm, the PCE remains at 14.64%, surpassing that of devices based on 2BTh-2F. These remarkable properties position TT-Ph-C6 as a highly promising NFREA material for boosting the efficiency of OSCs.

Metallic glass, as an emerging catalytic material, possesses an atomic structure characterized by long-range disorder and short-range order, which creates abundant and accessible active sites that enhance the adsorption and reactivity toward pollutant molecules, particularly dye compounds. In treating highly colored and recalcitrant Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye wastewater, Mo51Fe34B15 metallic glass wire demonstrate outstanding catalytic degradation performance within a conventional Fenton-like system. Under acidic conditions (pH = 2), the material exhibits a degradation rate constant of 0.698 min−1 for a 20 ppm RB5 dye solution, achieving a degradation efficiency of 98.8% within 10 min. After 10 consecutive cycles, the efficiency remains at 95%, and throughout 15 cycles, it consistently maintains a performance level above 90%. As the reaction proceeds, the degradation rate gradually decreases, primarily due to the accumulation of corrosion products on the catalyst surface, which are predominantly composed of MoO3 and Fe2O3. During the degradation process, metallic Mo0 and Fe0 serve as electron donors that facilitate the decomposition of H2O2, generating highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (•OH). These radicals attack the chromophoric structure of the dye, leading to its structural disruption and enabling rapid decolorization.

A novel hierarchical porous biomorphic ZnO/SnO was facilely synthesized in one step using bagasse as a bio-template. The structural features of the ZnO/SnO2 n–n heterostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results revealed that the as-prepared ZnO/SnO2 retained the original pore morphology of the bagasse material, and the ZnO/SnO2 was demonstrated with higher sensing performance as compared with the pure SnO2. Particularly, when the molar ratio of SnO2:ZnO = 1:1, the sensor displayed the highest response, showing an excellent response value of 37 under 100 ppm methanol at 340 °C. Meanwhile, the ZnO/SnO2 composite exhibited good gas selectivity and stability to methanol, which could mainly be attributed to the formation of n-n junctions between SnO2 and ZnO and the high capability of absorbed oxygen species of the ZnO/SnO2 composite.

This study aimed to develop a human acellular amniotic membrane (HAAM) scaffold suitable for corneal endothelial transplantation. The HAAM was engineered using sequential chemical treatments and physical agitation to remove cellular components while preserving the extracellular matrix structure. The study sought to evaluate the biocompatibility and functional properties of the HAAM when seeded with immortalized human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs), with the ultimate goal of providing a potential therapeutic option for corneal endothelial dysfunction. The HAAM was fabricated through a series of chemical treatments involving trypsin/EDTA, Triton X-100, sodium deoxycholate, and peracetic acid/ethanol, combined with physical agitation. Following lyophilization, the HAAM was sterilized and coated with fibronectin and chondroitin sulfate (FNC) to enhance cell adhesion. HCECs were then seeded onto the HAAM scaffold. Biocompatibility was assessed by evaluating cell adhesion using microscopy, cell viability using CCK-8 and EdU assays, and cell proliferation. Functional validation included immunofluorescence detection of tight junction proteins (ZO-1), transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to analyze the expression of genes regulating barrier function, ion transport, and extracellular matrix synthesis. Additionally, the expression of key genes critical for endothelial function was assessed to validate the functionality of the HAAM-based corneal endothelial transplantation membrane. The HAAM was successfully prepared, maintaining an intact collagen fiber structure. HCECs adhered closely to the HAAM scaffold, forming a continuous monolayer. The HAAM promoted cell viability and proliferation, as evidenced by positive expression of tight junction proteins and upregulation of key functional genes. Transcriptome analysis identified genes involved in proliferation and matrix synthesis, further supporting the biocompatibility and functional properties of the HAAM. The HAAM scaffold demonstrated excellent transparency, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility, making it suitable for the attachment and proliferation of HCECs. The effective maintenance of key functional gene expression levels suggests that the HAAM functionally mimics the characteristics of the natural corneal endothelial layer. These findings provide experimental evidence for the potential clinical application of the HAAM in corneal endothelial transplantation, offering a promising therapeutic option for patients with corneal endothelial dysfunction. Further studies are warranted to explore the long-term efficacy and safety of the HAAM in preclinical and clinical settings.

The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics, distribution of isolates, prevailing patterns, and antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial keratitis (BK) in a Tertiary Referral Hospital located in Southwest China. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 660 cases of bacterial keratitis occurring between January 2015 and December 2022. The demographic data, predisposing factors, microbial findings, and antibiotic sensitivity profiles were examined. Corneal trauma emerged as the most prevalent predisposing factor, accounting for 37.1% of cases. Among these cases, bacterial culture results were positive in 318 cases, 68 species of bacteria were identified. The most common Gram-Positive bacteria isolated overall was the and the most common Gram-Negative bacteria isolated was . Methicillin-Resistant accounted for 18.1% of all Gram-Positive bacteria. The detection rate of showed an increasing trend over time ( ). There was a significant decrease in the percentage of Gram-Negative microorganisms over time ( ). The sensitivity of Gram-Positive bacteria to linezolid, vancomycin, tigecycline, quinupristin/dalfopristin, and rifampicin was over 98%. The sensitivity rates of Gram-Negative bacteria to amikacin, meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoperazone sodium/sulbactam, ceftazidime, and cefepime were all above 85%. In patients with a history of vegetative trauma, the possibility of BK should be taken into account in addition to the focus on fungal keratitis. The microbial composition primarily consists of Gram-Positive cocci and Gram-Negative bacilli. Among the Gram-Positive bacteria, and are the most frequently encountered, while is the predominant Gram-Negative bacteria. To combat Gram-Positive bacteria, vancomycin, linezolid, and rifampicin are considered excellent antimicrobial agents. When targeting Gram-Negative pathogens, third-generation cephalosporins exhibit superior sensitivity compared to first and second-generation counterparts. As an initial empirical treatment for severe cases of bacterial keratitis and those unresponsive to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones in community settings, the combination therapy of vancomycin and tobramycin is a justifiable approach. Bacterial keratitis can be better managed by understanding the local etiology and antibacterial drug susceptibility patterns.

Three nonfused ring electron acceptors (NFREAs) TTC6, TT-C8T and TT-TC8 were purposefully designed and synthesized. The molecular geometry can be adjusted by the steric hindrance of lateral substituents. According to the DFT calculations, from TTC6 to TT-C8T and TT-TC8, planarity of the molecular backbone is gradually improved, accompanying with the enhancing of intramolecular charge transfer effect. As for TT-TC8, the two phenyl substituents are almost perpendicular to the molecular backbone, which endues the acceptor with good solubility and suppresses it to form over-aggregation. Multidirectional regular molecular orientation and closer molecular stacking are formed in TT-TC8 film. As a result, TT-TC8 based devices afford the highest PCE of 13.13%, which is much higher than that of TTC6 (4.41%) and TT-C8T (10.42%) and among the highest PCE values based on NFREAs.