Organic solar cells with D18 or derivatives offer efficiency over 19%

In recent years,organic solar cells(OSCs)have garnered significant attention due to their distinctive attributes,such as flexibility,lightweight,and solution processing,which position them as alternatives for next-generation solar technologies[1−5].Thanks to breakthroughs in materials development,the power conversion efficiency(PCE)for single-junction OSCs has already surpassed 19%[6−13].The development of photoactive materials is pivotal in enhancing the PCEs,and several reviews have provided insights into materials design[14−18].Herein,we highlight single-junction OSCs based on D18 and its derivatives[19,20].

Fullerenes and derivatives as electrocatalysts: Promises and challenges

Carbon-based metal-free nanomaterials are promising alternatives to precious metals as electrocatalysts of key energy storage and conversion technologies.Of paramount significance are the establishment of design principles by understanding the catalytic mechanisms and identifying the active sites.Distinct from sp2-conjugated graphene and carbon nanotube,fullerene possesses unique characteristics that are growingly being discovered and exploited by the electrocatalysis community.For instance,the well-defined atomic and molecular structures,the good electron affinity to tune the electronic structures of other substances,the intermolecular self-assembly into superlattices,and the on-demand chemical modification have endowed fullerene with incomparable advantages as electrocatalysts that are otherwise not applicable to other carbon ma-terials.As increasing studies are being reported on this intriguing topic,it is necessary to provide a state-of-the-art overview of the recent progress.This review takes such an initiative by summarizing the promises and challenges in the electrocatalytic applications of fullerene and its derivatives.The content is structured according to the composition and structure of fullerene,including intact fullerene(e.g.,fullerene composite and superlattices)and fullerene derivatives(e.g.,doped,endohedral,and disintegrated fullerene).The synthesis,characterization,catalytic mechanisms,and deficiencies of these fullerene-based materials are explicitly elaborated.We conclude it by sharing our perspectives on the key aspects that future efforts shall consider.

Discovery and structure-activity relationship studies of novel tetrahydro-β-carboline derivatives as apoptosis initiators for treating bacterial infections

Developing and excavating new agrochemicals with highly active and safe is an important tactic for protecting crop health and food safety.In this paper,to discover the new bactericide candidates,we designed,prepared a new type of1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline(THC)derivatives and evaluated the in vitro and in vivo bioactivities against the Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae(Xoo),Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.citri(Xac),and Pseudomonas syringae pv.actinidiae(Psa).The in vitro bioassay results exhibited that most title molecules possessed good activity toward the three plant pathogenic bacteria,the compound A17 showed the most active against Xoo and Xac with EC50 values of 7.27 and 4.89 mg mL^(-1)respectively,and compound A8 exhibited the best inhibitory activity against Psa with EC50value of 4.87 mg mL^(-1).Pot experiments showed that compound A17 exhibited excellent in vivo antibacterial activities to manage rice bacterial leaf blight and citrus bacterial canker,with protective efficiencies of 52.67 and 79.79%at 200 mgmL^(-1),respectively.Meanwhile,compound A8 showed good control efficiency(84.31%)against kiwifruit bacterial canker at 200 mg mL^(-1).Antibacterial mechanism suggested that these compounds could interfere with the balance of the redox system,damage the cell membrane,and induce the apoptosis of Xoo cells.Taken together,our study revealed that tetrahydro-β-carboline derivatives could be a promising candidate model for novel broadspectrum bactericides.

High-Value-Added Utilization of Turpentine:Screening of Anti-Influenza Virus Agents fromβ-Pinene Derivatives

Turpentine is a renewable and resourceful forest product.The deep processing and utilization of turpentine,particularly its primary componentβ-pinene,has garnered widespread attention.This study aimed to synthesize 40 derivatives ofβ-pinene,including nopinone,3-cyanopyridines of nopinone,myrtanyl acid,myrtanyl acylthioureas,and myrtanyl amides.We assessed the antiviral activities of theseβ-pinene derivatives against influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34(H1N1)using the 3-(4,5-dimetylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method.Theβ-pinene derivatives were used before and after cellular infection with the influenza virus to evaluate their preventive and therapeutic effects against the H1N1 virus.The results showed that only compound 10o exhibited a preventive effect against the H1N1 virus with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)value of 47.6μmol/L.Among the compounds,4e,4i,and 4l demonstrated therapeutic effects against cellular infection,with compound 4e displaying the most potent therapeutic effect(IC50=17.5μmol/L),comparable to the positive control ribavirin.These findings indicated that certainβ-pinene derivatives exhibited in vitro antiviral activity against the H1N1 influenza A virus,warranting further investigation as potential anti-influenza agents.

Identification of key genes regulating the synthesis of quercetin derivatives in Rosa roxburghii through integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics

Rosa roxburghii fruit is rich in flavonoids, but little is known about their biosynthetic pathways. In this study, we employed transcriptomics and metabolomics to study changes related to the flavonoids at five different stages of R. roxburghii fruit development. Flavonoids and the genes related to their biosynthesis were found to undergo significant changes in abundance across different developmental stages, and numerous quercetin derivatives were identified. We found three gene expression modules that were significantly associated with the abundances of the different flavonoids in R. roxburghii and identified three structural UDP-glycosyltransferase genes directly involved in the synthesis of quercetin derivatives within these modules. In addition, we found that RrBEH4, RrLBD1 and RrPIF8could significantly increase the expression of downstream quercetin derivative biosynthesis genes. Taken together,these results provide new insights into the metabolism of flavonoids and the accumulation of quercetin derivatives in R. roxburghii.

Tailored multifunctional hydrazine derivatives for efficient printable hole-conductive-free mesoscopic perovskite solar cells via enhancing defect passivation

The low-cost and easy large-scale fabrication advantages of printable mesoscopic perovskite solar cells(p-MPSCs)are overshadowed by their limited photovoltaic conversion efficiency(PCE).Here,we introduce the hydrazide derivative of 4-Hydroxybenzoylhydrazine(4-HBH)to improve the PCE of p-MPSCs by inducing enhanced defect passivation.Both carbonyl and hydrazine groups in hydrazide groups present strong interaction with perovskite.The hydroxyl group,as an electron donor group,increases the electron cloud density of the hydrazide group in 4-HBH under the conjugation of the benzene ring,and thus enhances its interaction with perovskite.Additionally,the hydroxy group itself interacts with perovskite and passivates defects synergistically.The hydrazine agents can also reduce I2and suppress the loss of iodine in perovskite films,which inhibits the formation of iodine-related defects.Consequently,p-MPSCs with 4-HBH achieve a high PCE of 19.21%,and present well improved stability.

Preparation of kakkatin derivatives and their anti-tumor activity

BACKGROUND Modern pharmacological studies have confirmed that plant-derived compounds from Puerariae flos(PF)has significant biological activities against liver damage,tumors and inflammation.Kakkatin is an isoflavone polyphenolic compound isolated from PF flower.However,the effect of kakkatin and its derivatives on anti-tumor has not been well explored.AIM To design and synthesize a kakkatin derivative[6-(hept-6-yn-1-yloxy)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-7-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one(HK)]to explore its anti-tumor biological activity.METHODS Hept-6-yn-1-yl ethanesulfonate was introduced to replace hydrogen at the hydroxyl position of kakkatin phenol,and the derivative of kakkatin was prepared;the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide was used to detect cell viability,a clone formation assay was adopted to detect cell proliferation,apoptosis,necrosis,and cell cycles were analyzed by Annexin V/propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry.Cell migration and invasion ability were evaluated by cell scratch assay and transwell assay.The potential mechanism of HK on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)SMMC-7721 cells was explored through network pharmacology and molecular docking,and finally real-time PCR assays was used to verify the potential targets and evaluate the biological activity of HK.RESULTS Compared with kakkatin,the modified HK did not significantly increase the inhibitory activity of gastric cancer MGC803 cells,but the inhibitory activity of HCC SMMC-7721 cells was increased by about 30 times,with an IC50 value of 2.5μM,and the tumor inhibition effect was better than cisplatin,which could significantly inhibit the cloning,invasion and metastasis of HCC SMMC-7721 cells,and induce apoptosis and G2/M cycle arrest.Its mechanism of action is mainly related to the upregulation of PDE3B and NFKB1 target proteins in the cAMP pathway.CONCLUSION HK have a significant inhibitory effect on HCC SMMC-7721 cells,and the targets of their action may be PDE3B and NFKB1 proteins in the cAMP pathway,making it a good lead drug for the treatment of HCC.

Study on Antitumor Activity of Piperidine Derivatives

[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the effects of piperidine derivatives on the proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells(Hele).[Methods]The target end product(piperidine derivative)was synthesized through a series of organic reactions.The MTT assay was adopted to detect the effect of piperidine derivative on the proliferation activity of Hele cells.The ROS fluorescence probe method was used to detect the changes of reactive oxygen species.The JC-1 method was applied to detect the changes of MMP in Hele cells.Flow cytometry was adopted to detect the apoptosis of Hele cells.[Results]The cell survival rates were 70.84%,65.46%and 54.48%when the drug concentration was 100,110 and 120μmol/L,respectively.When the drug concentration increased to 120μmol/L,the cell survival rate decreased by nearly half.The fluorescence intensity of active oxygen in the control group was 1,and when the drug concentrations were 100,110 and 120μmol/L,the fluorescence intensity of active oxygen was,respectively,1.315,1.478 and 1.677,which were higher than that in the control group.The red/green fluorescence intensity of the MMP control group was 1.819,and that of drug groups was,respectively,1.643,1.164 and 0.665,which were lower than that of the control group.The apoptosis rates were 10.79%,22.91%and 38.54%at the drug concentrations of 100,110 and 120μmol/L,respectively,showing a concentration dependent effect.The results showed that the piperidine derivative could inhibit the proliferation of Hele cells and induce apoptosis,which was positively correlated with the concentration.[Conclusions]This study provides theoretical basis and reference for the anti-tumor research of piperidine.

Sepsis Prediction Using CNNBDLSTM and Temporal Derivatives Feature Extraction in the IoT Medical Environment

Background:Sepsis,a potentially fatal inflammatory disease triggered by infection,carries significant healthimplications worldwide.Timely detection is crucial as sepsis can rapidly escalate if left undetected.Recentadvancements in deep learning(DL)offer powerful tools to address this challenge.Aim:Thus,this study proposeda hybrid CNNBDLSTM,a combination of a convolutional neural network(CNN)with a bi-directional long shorttermmemory(BDLSTM)model to predict sepsis onset.Implementing the proposed model provides a robustframework that capitalizes on the complementary strengths of both architectures,resulting in more accurate andtimelier predictions.Method:The sepsis prediction method proposed here utilizes temporal feature extraction todelineate six distinct time frames before the onset of sepsis.These time frames adhere to the sepsis-3 standardrequirement,which incorporates 12-h observation windows preceding sepsis onset.All models were trained usingthe Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III(MIMIC-III)dataset,which sourced 61,522 patients with 40clinical variables obtained from the IoT medical environment.The confusion matrix,the area under the receiveroperating characteristic curve(AUCROC)curve,the accuracy,the precision,the F1-score,and the recall weredeployed to evaluate themodels.Result:The CNNBDLSTMmodel demonstrated superior performance comparedto the benchmark and other models,achieving an AUCROC of 99.74%and an accuracy of 99.15%one hour beforesepsis onset.These results indicate that the CNNBDLSTM model is highly effective in predicting sepsis onset,particularly within a close proximity of one hour.Implication:The results could assist practitioners in increasingthe potential survival of the patient one hour before sepsis onset.

Numerical Treatments for Crossover Cancer Model of Hybrid Variable-Order Fractional Derivatives

In this paper,two crossover hybrid variable-order derivatives of the cancer model are developed.Grünwald-Letnikov approximation is used to approximate the hybrid fractional and variable-order fractional operators.The existence,uniqueness,and stability of the proposed model are discussed.Adams Bashfourth’s fifth-step method with a hybrid variable-order fractional operator is developed to study the proposed models.Comparative studies with generalized fifth-order Runge-Kutta method are given.Numerical examples and comparative studies to verify the applicability of the used methods and to demonstrate the simplicity of these approximations are presented.We have showcased the efficiency of the proposed method and garnered robust empirical support for our theoretical findings.

Avoiding the Use of Lagrange Multipliers. II. Constrained Extrema of Functionals and the Evaluation of Constrained Derivatives

A method for determining the extrema of a real-valued and differentiable function for which its dependent variables are subject to constraints and that avoided the use of Lagrange multipliers was previously presented (Corti and Fariello, Op. Res. Forum 2 (2021) 59). The method made use of projection matrices, and a corresponding Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization process, to identify the constrained extrema. Furthermore, information about the second-derivatives of the given function with constraints was generated, from which the nature of the constrained extrema could be determined, again without knowledge of the Lagrange multipliers. Here, the method is extended to the case of functional derivatives with constraints. In addition, constrained first-order and second-order derivatives of the function are generated, in which the derivatives with respect to a given variable are obtained and, concomitantly, the effect of the variations of the remaining chosen set of dependent variables are strictly accounted for. These constrained derivatives are valid not only at the extrema points, and also provide another equivalent route for the determination of the constrained extrema and their nature.

Applications of Metal–Organic Frameworks and Their Derivatives in Electrochemical CO_(2)Reduction

Electrochemically reducing CO_(2)to more reduced chemical species is a promising way that not only enables the conversion of intermittent energy resources to stable fuels,but also helps to build a closed-loop anthropogenic carbon cycle.Among various electrocatalysts for electrochemical CO_(2)reduction,multifunctional metal–organic frameworks(MOFs)have been employed as highly efficient and selective heterogeneous electrocatalysts due to their ultrahigh porosity and topologically diverse structures.Up to now,great progress has been achieved in the design and synthesis of highly active and selective MOF-related catalysts for electrochemical CO_(2)reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR),and their corresponding reaction mechanisms have been thoroughly studied.In this review,we summarize the recent progress of applying MOFs and their derivatives in CO_(2)RR,with a focus on the design strategies for electrocatalysts and electrolyzers.We first discussed the reaction mechanisms for different CO_(2)RR products and introduced the commonly applied electrolyzer configurations in the current CO_(2)RR system.Then,an overview of several categories of products(CO,HCOOH,CH_(4),CH_(3)OH,and multi-carbon chemicals)generated from MOFs or their derivatives via CO_(2)RR was discussed.Finally,we offer some insights and perspectives for the future development of MOFs and their derivatives in electrochemical CO_(2)reduction.We aim to provide new insights into this field and further guide future research for large-scale applications.

Advances and challenges in using nirmatrelvir and its derivatives against SARS-CoV-2 infection

On December 22,2021,the United States Food and Drug Administration approved the first main protease inhibitor,i.e.,oral antiviral nirmatrelvir(PF-07321332)/ritonavir(Paxlovid),for the treatment of early severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)infection.Nirmatrelvir inhibits SARSCoV-2 infection,but high doses or long-term treatment may cause embryonic developmental toxicity and changes in host gene expression.The chiral structure of nirmatrelvir plays a key role in its antiviral activity.Ritonavir boosts the efficacy of nirmatrelvir by inactivating cytochrome P4503A4 expression and occupying the plasma protein binding sites.Multidrug resistance protein 1 inhibitors may increase the efficacy of nirmatrelvir.However,Paxlovid has many contraindications.Some patients treated with Paxlovid experience a second round of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)symptoms soon after recovery.Interestingly,the antiviral activity of nirmatrelvir metabolites,such as compounds 12e18,is similar to or higher than that of nirmatrelvir.Herein,we review the advances and challenges in using nirmatrelvir and its derivatives with the aim of providing knowledge for drug developers and physicians in the fight against COVID-19.

Conformable and Caputo’s Derivatives in Generalized Viscoelastic Models

We study two generalized versions of a system of equations which describe the time evolution of the hydrodynamic fluctuations of density and velocity in a linear viscoelastic fluid. In the first of these versions, the time derivatives are replaced by conformable derivatives, and in the second version left-handed Caputo’s derivatives are used. We show that the solutions obtained with these two types of derivatives exhibit significant similarities, which is an interesting (and somewhat surprising) result, taking into account that the conformable derivatives are local operators, while Caputo’s derivatives are nonlocal operators. We also show that the solutions of the generalized systems are similar to the solutions of the original system, if the order α of the new derivatives (conformable or Caputo) is less than one. On the other hand, when α is greater than one, the solutions of the generalized systems are qualitatively different from the solutions of the original system.

Modeling Drug Concentration in Blood through Caputo-Fabrizio and Caputo Fractional Derivatives

This study focuses on the dynamics of drug concentration in the blood.In general,the concentration level of a drug in the blood is evaluated by themean of an ordinary and first-order differential equation.More precisely,it is solved through an initial value problem.We proposed a newmodeling technique for studying drug concentration in blood dynamics.This technique is based on two fractional derivatives,namely,Caputo and Caputo-Fabrizio derivatives.We first provided comprehensive and detailed proof of the existence of at least one solution to the problem;we later proved the uniqueness of the existing solution.The proof was written using the Caputo-Fabrizio fractional derivative and some fixed-point techniques.Stability via theUlam-Hyers(UH)technique was also investigated.The application of the proposedmodel on two real data sets revealed that the Caputo derivative wasmore suitable in this study.Indeed,for the first data set,the model based on the Caputo derivative yielded a Mean Squared Error(MSE)of 0.03095 with a corresponding best value of fractional order of derivative of 1.00360.Caputo-Fabrizio-basedderivative appeared to be the second-best method for the problem,with an MSE of 0.04324 for a corresponding best fractional derivative order of 0.43532.For the second experiment,Caputo derivative-based model still performed the best as it yielded an MSE of 0.04066,whereas the classical and the Caputo-Fabrizio methods were tied with the same MSE of 0.07299.Another interesting finding was that the MSE yielded by the Caputo-Fabrizio fractional derivative coincided with the MSE obtained from the classical approach.

Preparation of Amide-Containing Insecticidal Derivatives from the Renewable Natural Productβ-Pinene

The preparation of bioactive derivatives from the renewable natural product pinene is a hot research topic in the deep processing and utilization of pinene.In this study,β-pinene was used to develop novel molecules as a promising new precursor of insecticide.A series of amide-containing derivatives ofβ-pinene were synthesized and characterized.The insecticidal activities of these derivatives against Mythimna separate and Semiaphis heraclei were tested.The structure characterization results showed that the characterization data of amide-containing derivatives were in full agreement with their proposed structures.The insecticidal activities evaluation results indicated that amide-containing derivatives exhibited weak insecticidal activity against Mythimna separate,but exhibited moderate to good insecticidal activity against Semiaphis heraclei.After testing for 72 h,the corrected mortality against Semiaphis heraclei of compounds 5c,5e,5f,5 h,5j,and 5 m was 100%at 1000 mg/L.The structure-activity relationship analysis results showed that the introduction of an amide group into the structure of derivatives improved their insecticidal activity against Semiaphis heraclei.Meanwhile,the amide-containing derivatives containing the F and NO_(2) substituted benzene ring might improve their insecticidal activity against Semiaphis heraclei.This study will be helpful for the high value-added utilization of the natural renewable resourceβ-pinene and the development of novel insecticides.

Development and identification of two novel wheat-rye 6R derivative lines with adult-plant resistance to powdery mildew and high-yielding potential

Powdery mildew,caused by Blumeria graminis f.sp.tritici(Bgt),is a devastating disease that seriously threatens wheat yield and quality.To control this disease,host resistance is the most effective measure.Compared with the resistance genes from common wheat,alien resistance genes can better withstand infection of this highly variable pathogen.Development of elite alien germplasm resources with powdery mildew resistance and other key breeding traits is an attractive strategy in wheat breeding.In this study,three wheat-rye germplasm lines YT4-1,YT4-2,and YT4-3 were developed through hybridization between octoploid triticale and common wheat,out of which the lines YT4-1 and YT4-2 conferred adult-plant resistance(APR)to powdery mildew while the line YT4-3 was susceptible to powdery mildew during all of its growth stages.Using genomic in situ hybridization,multi-color fluorescence in situ hybridization,multi-color GISH,and molecular marker analysis,YT4-1,YT4-2,and YT4-3 were shown to be cytogenetically stable wheat-rye 6R addition and T1RS.1BL translocation line,6RL ditelosomic addition and T1RS.1BL translocation line,and T1RS.1BL translocation line,respectively.Compared with previously reported wheat-rye derivative lines carrying chromosome 6R,YT4-1 and YT4-2 showed stable APR without undesirable pleiotropic effects on agronomic traits.Therefore,these novel wheat-rye 6R derivative lines are expected to be promising bridge resources in wheat disease breeding.

Three new amide derivatives from the fungus Alternaria brassicicola

Three new amide derivatives(alteralkaloids A-C,1-3)and three known alkaloids(4-6)were afforded after phytochemical investigation of fungus Alternaria brassicicola.The structures of these compounds were confirmed by NMR spectroscopic and HRESIMS data.Furthermore,the absolute configuration of 1 was determined using the single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.Compounds 1-3 belong to a class of amide derivatives that have not been found in nature before,sharing the same characteristic signals of the butyl moiety and amide group.These isolated compounds mentioned above were tested for the cytotoxic activity.

Computation of Stiffness and Damping Derivatives of an Ogive in a Limiting Case of Mach Number and Specific Heat Ratio

This work aims to compute stability derivatives in the Newtonian limit in pitch when the Mach number tends to infinity.In such conditions,these stability derivatives depend on the Ogive’s shape and not the Mach number.Generally,the Mach number independence principle becomes effective from M=10 and above.The Ogive nose is obtained through a circular arc on the cone surface.Accordingly,the following arc slopes are consideredλ=5,10,15,−5,−10,and−15.It is found that the stability derivatives decrease due to the growth inλfrom 5 to 15 and vice versa.Forλ=5 and 10,the damping derivative declines with an increase inλfrom 5 to 10.Yet,for the damping derivatives,the minimum location remains at a pivot position,h=0.75 for large values ofλ.Hence,whenλ=−15,the damping derivatives are independent of the cone angles for most pivot positions except in the early twenty percent of the leading edge.

Novel Mannich Bases of Benzimidazole Derivatives: An Antibacterial Study of Environmental Bacterial Strains

A previous study was conducted on the synthesis and antibacterial evaluation of Mannich bases of 2-(thioalkyl)-1H-methylbenzimidazole derivatives. The results of this study showed that certain 2-(thioalkyl)-1H-methylbenzimidazole and 2-(thioalkyl)-methyl-1-(piperidin-1-ylmethyl)benzimidazole derivatives possess antibacterial activities against clinical strains, such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia (Gram-negative bacteria), Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-positive bacteria). Following these favorable results, we extended the antibacterial evaluation of this series of molecules to environmental strains. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the methyl-piperidine group fixed at position-1 of this new series of benzimidazoles on the antibacterial activity of environmental strains. In addition, we first evaluated the antibacterial activity of four 2-(thioalkyl)methylbenzimidazole derivatives and then that of five 2-(thioalkyl)-methyl-1-(piperidin-1-ylmethyl) benzimidazole derivatives. This study allowed us to show that compounds 1d and 1e could inhibit bacterial growth in vitro of the Enterobacteria P1 strain with inhibition diameters of 17.3 ± 0.6 mm and 10 ± 0.0 mm, respectively. However, addition of methyl-piperidinyl in this series showed that five (5) of 2-(thioalkyl)-methyl-1-(piperidin-1-ylmethyl) benzimidazole derivatives had an inhibitory effect on the in vitro growth of bacterial strains used except on Enterobacteria P2 with inhibition diameters between 10.0 ± 0.8 mm and 27.9 ± 1.4 mm. The introduction of the methyl-piperidinyl group at the 1-position of 2-(thioalkyl)-1H-methylbenzimidazole derivatives greatly improved the antibacterial activity against environmental bacteria such as Escherichia coli A1, A2, A3, and A4 and two Enterobacteria P1.