Roslin Cells (United Kingdom)

Solar energy conversion into fuels such as hydrogen through photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells is an attractive way to solve the problems present in the actual energetic system. (1) Despite the advances that have been made in this line, it is still necessary to develop new materials and cell configurations to take this technology to a higher scientific level. The application of organic polymers in PEC is a hot topic that continues to grow due to the promising optoelectronic properties of this class of semiconductors. Conjugated polymers exhibit advanced properties because of it particular conjugation that confers it a huge conductivity through the whole structure. (2) In particular, Conjugate Porous Polymers (CPP) offers a higher photostability and robustness that is fundamental for long term application, but their synthesis often leads to a large-particle powder, unsuitable for preparing thin films, key to preparing high-quality thin films, limiting its applicability in PEC.(3)In this work, we present two innovative strategies that allow the efficient use of these materials in photoelectrochemical cells. The first consists of a synthetic route through mini or ultra-mini emulsion synthesis that provides particles from 500 nm to 20 nm, adequate for thin film preparation. The second consists in the design of suitable monomers to be electropolymerised, obtaining high quality thin films and highly controlled thickness. These strategies allow the complete characterization of the optoelectronic properties of the CPPs, since the thin films obtained are of high quality and stable over time. In this way, several polymers have been prepared and the electronic structure was determined by a combination different techniques such as XPS, electrochemistry and UV-VIS spectroscopy, revealing the suitability to be used as photoelectrodes.The photoelectrochemical properties were analyses by means of linear sweep voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and Photopotential measurements suggesting its potentiality for solar energy conversion. In addition, attending o the conductivity type and electronic properties, both photoelectrodes and tandem cells have been designed by combining them with different materials such as TiO2. The formed hybrid photoelectrodes have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM, EDX and AFM. A series of photoelectrochemical measurements have been performed in a three electrode cell configuration, using the hybrid materials as working electrodes. (4)Hybrid photoelectrodes present improved photovoltages and photocurrents compared to TiO2 and CPP alone, confirming adequate light absorption and charge transfer between them. Besides, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was performed to confirm the improved charge transfer observed when illuminating the hybrid photoelectrodes. Furthermore, the designed tandem cells were connected to a gas chromatograph and the hydrogen evolution was confirmed and quantified. Keywords: Photoelectrochemistry, Solar fuels, Organic materials, Conjugate Porous Polymers, References M. Grätzel, Photoelectrochemical cells. Nature. 414, 338–344 (2001).M. Liras, M. Barawi, V. A. de la P. O’Shea. Chem. Soc. Rev. 48, 5454–5487 (2019).M. Barawi, L. Collado, M. Gomez-Mendoza, F. E. Oropeza, M. Liras, V. A. de la P. O’Shea, C. Adv. Energy Mater. 18, 2101530 (2021).M. Barawi, E. Alfonso-González, C.G. López-Calixto, A. García, A. García-Sánchez, I. J. Villar-García, M. Liras, V.A. de la Peña O'Shea. Small, 18, 37. 2201351 (2022). Acknowledgements This work was supported by the Spanish national project NovaCO2 (PID2020-118593RB-C22) and ERC POC (NanoCPP). M.B thanks the Juan de la Cierva Incorporación grant (IJC2019 – 042430 –I).

Supplementation of a combination of lysolecithin, a synthetic emulsifier, and monoglycerides (LEX) in liquid and dry form to broiler diets with different energy levels was investigated to determine their effect on performance, litter quality and subsequent occurrence of footpad lesions. One thousand two hundred and forty-eight-day-old Ross 308 broilers were assigned to 1 of 6 treatments for a 42-day study: a basal diet with a normal energy content (NE); NE + 300 g/t LEX in liquid form (LEL); NE + 500 g/t LEX in dry form (LED); a basal diet with low energy (LE, -90 kcal/kg starter, -100 kcal/kg grower, finisher), LE + 300 g/t LEL and a LE + 500 g/t LED. Each treatment consisted of 13 pens of 16 birds each. Diets were fed in 3 phases (starter d 0-10, grower d 11-21, finisher d 22-42). Feed intake and weight were measured on d 0, 10, 21, and 42. On d 42 a litter sample was collected from each pen and 2 birds per pen were assessed for footpad lesions and breast scald. Data were analyzed using JMP 16, with means separation achieved using Tukey's HSD; significance was assumed at P < 0.05. Results showed a higher (P < 0.05) cumulative bodyweight gain with LEX supplementation (NE CON = 2,718 g, NE+LED = 2,829, NE+LEL = 2,895, LE CON = 2,722, LE+LED = 2,787, LE+LEL = 2,893; P = 0.0027). An increased feed intake was observed for the LE diets, however cumulative FCR of LE+LED and LE+LEL remained equal to the NE control (1.657 NE CON, 1.657 LE+LED, 1.623 LE+LEL; P > 0.05), suggesting LEX enabled the birds to compensate for the energy gap. Litter dry matter was significantly improved with both LED and LEL supplementation compared to the control groups, and resulted in lower (P < 0.05) occurrence and severity of footpad lesions and breast scalds. Considering the income over feed cost (IOFC) of the NE treatment as the reference point for comparison, all other treatments improved profitability, with NE+LEL and LE+LEL achieving the greatest IOFC with 154.58 and 175.96 €/1,000 birds respectively. In conclusion, feeding broilers a combination of lysophospholipids, a synthetic emulsifier and monoglycerides resulted in improved bird performance. The use of the LEX also improved litter quality and footpad health, therefore improving animal welfare indicators such as breast scald and footpad measurements.

Various host and parasite factors interact to determine the outcome of infection. We investigated the effects of initial infectious dose and co-infection with a red blood cell-limiting helminth on the within-host dynamics of murine malaria. Using a time-series approach to model the within-host “epidemiology” of malaria, we found that increasing initial dose reduced time to peak cell-to-cell parasite propagation, but also reduced its magnitude, while helminth co-infection delayed peak malaria propagation, except at the highest malaria doses. Using a mechanistic model of within-host dynamics, we identified dose-dependence in parameters describing host responses to malaria infection and uncovered a plausible explanation of the observed differences during co-infections: in co-infections, our model predicted a higher background death rate of RBCs combined with greater influx of new RBCs. Such interactions are key to understanding variation in disease severity, and could inform field studies of malaria, where co-infection and low doses are the norm.

ARIES is an EU-sponsored programme for accelerator<br> research and innovation. An international workshop was<br> held online as part of this programme in June 2021 on the<br> topic of 'Materials and Engineering Technologies for Particle<br> Accelerator Beam Diagnostic Instruments'. The aim of<br> the workshop was to bring together instrument designers,<br> experts and industry and research groups to review the state<br> of the art in the field, present designs and discuss future<br> challenges, whilst also developing and strengthening collaborations<br> between groups. There were sessions covering<br> 'Instrument design and operation', 'Novel materials and applications'<br> and 'New technology and components' over the<br> three half-days of the online meeting. This paper reviews<br> the key topics presented at the workshop.

The CRISPR-Cas9 system has become increasingly popular for genome engineering across all fields of biological research, including in the Gram-positive model organism Bacillus subtilis. A major drawback for the commercial use of Cas9 is the IP landscape requiring a license for its use, as well as reach-through royalties on the final product. Recently an alternative CRISPR nuclease, free to use for industrial R&D, MAD7 was released by Inscripta (CO). Here we report the first use of MAD7 for gene editing in B. subtilis, in which editing rates of 93% and 100% were established. Additionally, we engineer the first reported catalytically inactive MAD7 (dMAD7) variant (D877A, E962A, and D1213A) and demonstrate its utility for CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) at up to 71.3% reduction of expression at single and multiplexed target sites within B. subtilis. We also confirm the CRISPR-based editing mode of action in B. subtilis providing evidence that the nuclease-mediated DNA double-strand break acts as a counterselection mechanism after homologous recombination of the donor DNA.

Intermediate phases of LiCo2O3, CoO and ZnO are evidenced during the 1st lithiation of a ZnCo2O4 anode.

This chapter will provide a concise overview of the history of mammalian in vitro cell culture from its first descriptions through to the modern era. A specific focus will be adopted to understand when the importance of oxygen control emerged within the field, and we will discuss some of the earliest examples. A description of the common and state-of-the-art systems designed to provide an approximation of physiological normoxia will follow before finally describing its application in the emerging field of stem cell biology, specifically pluripotent stem cells and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.