Search

Tribbles homolog 2 (TRIB2) plays an important role in the follicular development of female mammals. However, its expression and function in the yak (Bos grunniens) are still unclear. In this study, we predicted the molecular characteristics of TRIB2, and revealed its expression pattern in yak (Bos grunniens) tissues and ovarian granulosa cells. We cloned the full length of the yak TRIB2 gene obtained by RT-PCR was 1368 bp and the coding sequence (CDS) was 624 bp, encoding 207 amino acids (AA). Homology analysis showed that the yak TRIB2 is highly conserved among species. TRIB2 was detected to be extensively expressed in seven tissues of the yak liver, spleen, lung, kidney, ovary, oviduct and uterus by qPCR. The expression of TRIB2 mRNA in the ovary during gestation was significantly lower than that in the non-pregnant (p < 0.05). At each stage of follicle development, the TRIB2 mRNA in granulosa cells showed a significant upward trend with the development of follicles. The expression of TRIB2 gradually decreased with the increase of the culture time of the granulosa cells in vitro. In conclusion, these results suggest that TRIB2 may play an important role in the follicular development of yaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) solar cells have attracted extensive attention in silicon‐based tandem solar cells. The performance of Sb2S3 devices fabricated by the vacuum method is limited by sulfur vacancies (VS) and surface oxide defects during high‐temperature processes. Herein, amorphous Sb2S3 film based on low‐temperature rapid thermal evaporation (RTE) technique is fabricated to overcome S loss. Moreover, a sulfur‐atmosphere recrystallization strategy is further developed to obtain high‐quality absorbers from the amorphous film. The element content of Sb2S3 film is completely in accord with the stoichiometric ratio (2:3), and the surface oxides are effectively suppressed, enhancing VOC and fill factor. Compared to the control directly crystallized film, the defect concentrations of the S‐recrystallized Sb2S3 film are reduced by 61%, exhibiting better uniformity and higher PN junction quality. Ultimately, the full‐inorganic Sb2S3 solar cells (FTO/TiO2/Sb2S3/Au) achieve an efficiency of 6.25%. The S‐atmosphere recrystallization process can effectively passivate bulk defects (VS and Sb2O3) and suppress recombination to improve device performance, which will provide new prospects for vacuum method‐based Sb2S3 thin film solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone (O3) and particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution are major pollution problems faced by global cities. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are common precursors of O3 and PM2.5. In this study, the concentration and composition characteristics of target volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were monitored at five sampling points distributed in the industrial zone of Shaoxing city, Zhejiang Province, China. The source of VOCs, O3 and PM2.5 was analyzed by the positive definite matrix factor analysis software (PMF) developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The results show that VOCs in industrial zones mainly come from four sources: oil and gas volatile sources (50%), motor vehicle emission sources (22%), organic solvent sources (18%), and photochemical or biological sources (10%). The analysis results of O3 sources show that the share of ozone formation potential (OFP) of each emission source is as follows: oil and gas volatile source (43.4%), motor vehicle emission source (25.5%), organic solvent source (20.1%) and photochemical or biological source (11%). PM2.5 mainly comes from four sources: secondary inorganic salt source (44%), motor vehicle emission source (23%), industrial source (20%) and dust source (2%). The results and interpretation of this study provide information for the formulation of effective ozone and related stethoscope control measures in micro-industrial cities in the Yangtze River Delta of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfate (SO42−) sources are unclear leading to the underestimation of its concentration in the model. Hourly resolution δ34S‐SO2 and δ34S‐SO42− values of three haze episodes (EP1‐EP3) were synchronously collected for the first time to quantify the influence of 34S fractionation from emission sources (e.g., coal combustion) and SO2 atmospheric oxidation on SO2/SO42− source apportionment. After considering the 34S fractionation from coal combustion and atmospheric oxidation, the reasonable and logical source contributions of SO42− were obtained, showing highly consistent with that of Positive Matrix Factorization model results. Considering the 34S fraction from atmospheric oxidation, the source apportionment of SO2/SO42− obtained by hourly resolution δ34S‐SO2 and δ34S‐SO42− can more accurately reflect the dynamic changes of emission sources. Traffic emissions (49%) and coal combustion (46%–65%) were the major contributors to SO2/SO42− in EP1 and EP2‐EP3, respectively. However, obvious deviations of coal combustion contribution were found without considering 34S fractionation from coal combustion. Especially for the northwest transmission channels in EP2‐EP3, the deviation values accounted for 17.1%–38.5% of secondary SO42−. Moreover, δ34S was considered as a more sensitive source indicator than SO2 concentration by the results comparison of 34S technique and air quality model (Nested Air Quality Prediction Model System), which can provide more reliable evidence for SO2 emission control. Plain Language Summary: Inadequate understanding of sulfate (SO42−) sources leads to the deviation of its concentration prediction in the model. Based on the hourly resolution δ34S values of SO2 and SO42− during three haze episodes, this study investigated the influence of 34S fractionation from emission sources and the SO2 oxidation process on the source contributions of SO42−. We found that the source contributions of SO42− were more reasonable when considered the 34S fractionation from coal combustion and SO2 atmospheric oxidation, which were similar to the results of Positive Matrix Factorization model. Considering the 34S fractionation from SO2 oxidation process, we also obtained the dynamic source contributions of SO42− in haze episodes, showing traffic emission (49%) and coal combustion (46%–65%) as the major contributors to SO42− in EP1 and EP2‐EP3, respectively. Otherwise, ignoring the 34S fractionation from coal combustion, the contribution of coal combustion to SO42− showed great deviations (17.1%–38.5% of secondary SO42−). Finally, the result comparisons of SO42− sources between 34S and air quality model showed 34S as a more sensitive source indicator than SO2 concentration to trace the source emission and make emission reduction measures in the future. Key Points: Reasonable and logical source contributions of SO42− were obtained with considering the 34S fractionation effects from coal combustion and atmospheric oxidation processesEvidence from 34S showed that traffic emission and coal combustion were major contributors to SO42− in EP1 and EP2‐EP3, respectivelyCompared with SO2 concentration, 34S is a more sensitive index to trace the SO2/SO42− emission sources in the future [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]