In the early stage, Marks and co-workers [ 13 ] reported a striking performance improvement of OSCs by replacing PEDOT:PSS with NiO x fi lm using a pulsed-laser deposition technology. From then on, NiO x HTLs have been reported for organic optoelectronics by various preparation methods, such as thermal evaporation, [ 14 ] sputtering, [ 9a ] and solution process. [ 9d , 15 ] Among them, solution process method is desirable for low-cost, large-scale and roll-to-roll production. Olson and co-workers [ 16 ] proposed a solution-processed NiO x fi lm as highly effi cient HTL in OSCs. The functional NiO x HTL was fabricated through annealing the precursor fi lm at a temperature of 275 °C. So and co-workers [ 17 ] also presented a NiO x fi lm by using monoethanolamine (MEA) to react with Ni in ethanol solution followed by thermally converting (275 °C) coordination complexes ions [Ni(MEA) 2 (OAc)]+ into high-quality NiO x . Meanwhile, solution-processed NiO x at 150 °C has also been realized. Ma and co-workers [ 18 ] reported a solution-processed NiO x fi lm for OSCs using oxygen-plasma treatment and annealing treatment simultaneously. Zhang et. al. reported that the colloidal NiO nanoparticles are used as the anode buffer layer in OSCs without high temperature post-annealing to induce decomposition and crystallization. [ 9f ] For a long period, the studies of NiO x HTLs were focused on utilizing sol-gel methods with thermally converting the precursor solution to NiO x thin fi lms. In the process of device fabrications, thermal annealing process and oxygen-plasma treatment may be simultaneously required, which hinders the applications of NiO x in fl exible optoelectronic devices. Instead of precursor method, an approach to signifi cantly reduce the processing temperature of TMO HTLs is to directly use high-quality colloidal nanoparticles (NPs). Jin and co-workers demonstrated a facile and general strategy based on ligand protection for the synthesis of unstable colloidal NiO nanocrystals. [ 19 ] Fattakhova-Rohlfi ng and co-workers described the preparation of ultrasmall, crystalline, and dispersible NiO nanoparticles, which are promising candidates as catalysts for electrochemical oxygen generation. [ 9e ] Herein, we will demonstrate a facile chemical precipitation method which is robust and simple for direct preparation of high-quality non-stoichiometric NiO x NPs. Remarkably, by using this method, NiO x HTL fi lm can be formed through a room-temperature solution process without any post-treatments during device fabrication. Interestingly, our results show that the NiO x NPs fi lm can function as effective HTLs over a wide range of annealing temperatures from room temperature to 150 °C. Very good optoelectronic performances utilizing the NiO x NPs fi lm as HTLs have been demonstrated in both OSCs and OLEDs. High power conversion effi ciency (PCE) of 9.16% (best 9.28%) was achieved in OSCs using NiO x

The pathogen Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) is a major cause of respiratory disease, mastitis, and arthritis in cattle. Screening the key immunogenic proteins and updating rapid diagnostic techniques are necessary to the prevention and control of M. bovis infection. In this study, 19 highly immunogenic proteins from M. bovis strain PD were identified using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting and MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. Of these 19 proteins, pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 component beta subunit (PDHB) showed excellent immune reactivity and repeatability. PDHB was found to be conserved in different M. bovis isolates, as indicated by Western blot analysis. On the basis of these results, a rPDHB-based indirect ELISA (iELISA) was established for the detection of serum antibodies using prokaryotically expressed recombinant PDHB protein as the coating antigen. The specificity analysis result showed that rPDHB-based iELISA did not react with other pathogens assessed in our study except M. agalactiae (which infects sheep and goats). Moreover, 358 serum samples from several disease-affected cattle feedlots were tested using this iELISA system and a commercial kit, which gave positive rates of 50.8% and 39.9%, respectively. The estimated Kappa agreement coefficient between the two methods was 0.783. Notably, 39 positive serum samples that had been missed by the commercial kit were all found to be positive by Western blot analysis. The detection rate of rPDHB-based iELISA was significantly higher than that of the commercial kit at a serum dilution ratio of 1∶5120 to 1∶10,240 (P<0.05). Taken together, these results provide important information regarding the novel immunogenic proteins of M. bovis. The established rPDHB-based iELISA may be suitable for use as a new method of antibody detection in M. bovis.

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While zirconium-based coatings are known to improve the cycling stability of a number of lithium ion battery cathodes, the microstructural origin of this enhancement remains uncertain. Here we combine advanced transmission electron microscopy (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, high-angle annular dark field, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) with electrochemical impedance analysis to provide new insight into the dramatic role of Zr surface modification on the electrochemical performance of Li- and Mn-rich (LMR) cathodes (Li­[Li0.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54]­O2). It is demonstrated that a Zr-based rock-salt structure layer with a thickness of 1–2 nm is formed on the surface of the LMR. This layer is effective in suppressing the deleterious phase transformation of LMR from initial layered composite combining Li2MO3 and LiMO2 to the disordered rock-salt phase, leading to an enhanced long-term cycling performance and rate capability. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis demonstrates that the Zr coating does not affect the cathode electrolyte interface (CEI), with the surface film impedance (R sf) being virtually identical in both cases after 100 cycles, at 45.1 versus 45.6 Ω. Conversely, the Zr coating tremendously stabilizes the cathode interfacial structure. The charge-transfer impedance (R ct) in the baseline unmodified LMR increases from 34.2 Ω at cycle 3 to 729.2 Ω at cycle 100. For the Zr-modified specimen, R ct increases dramatically less, from 19.7 to 76.9 Ω. The key finding of this study is then that Zr is actively incorporated into the structure of the cathode but does not affect CEI stability. This fundamental result should guide future surface modification strategies for a range of cathode materials.

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) responses to viral infection are a form of antibody regulated immune responses mediated through the Fc fragment. Whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) triggered ADCC responses contributes to COVID-19 disease development is currently not well understood. To understand the potential correlation between ADCC responses and COVID-19 disease development, we analyzed the ADCC activity and neutralizing antibody response in 255 individuals ranging from asymptomatic to fatal infections over 1 year post disease. ADCC was elicited by 10 days post-infection, peaked by 11–20 days, and remained detectable until 400 days post-infection. In general, patients with severe disease had higher ADCC activities. Notably, patients who had severe disease and recovered had higher ADCC activities than patients who had severe disease and deceased. Importantly, ADCC activities were mediated by a diversity of epitopes in SARS-COV-2-infected mice and induced to comparable levels against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) (B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1) as that against the D614G mutant in human patients and vaccinated mice. Our study indicates anti-SARS-CoV-2 ADCC as a major trait of COVID-19 patients with various conditions, which can be applied to estimate the extra-neutralization level against COVID-19, especially lethal COVID-19.

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Great endeavors have been dedicated to the development of wound dressing materials. However, there is still a demand for developing a wound dressing hydrogel that integrates natural macromolecules without requiring extra chemical modifications, so as to enable a facile transformation and practical application in wound healing. Herein, a composite hydrogel was prepared with water-soluble polysaccharides from Enteromorpha prolifera (PEP) cross-linked with boric acid and polyacrylamide cross-linked via polymerization (PAM) using a one-pot method. The dual-network of this hydrogel enabled it to have an ultratough mechanical strength. Moreover, interfacial characterizations reflected that the hydrogen bonds and dynamic hydroxyl−borate bonds contributed to the self-healing ability of the PEP-PAM hydrogel, and the surface groups on the hydrogel allowed for tissue adhesiveness and natural antioxidant properties. Additionally, human epidermal growth factor-loaded PEP-PAM hydrogel promoted cell proliferation and migration in vitro and significantly accelerated wound healing in vivo on model rats. These progresses suggested a prospect for the PEP-PAM hydrogel as an effective and easily available wound dressing material. Remarkably, this work showcases that a wound dressing hydrogel can be facially developed by using natural polysaccharides as a one component and offers a new route for the high-value utilization of disastrous marine blooming biomass by transforming it into a biomedical material.

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