Jianghan University

HIV-1 infection activates microglia and triggers neuroinflammation, which is the primary cause of HIV-associated neurological complications. Our previous study demonstrated that HIV-1 infection upregulates m6A modification in microglia, and in this study, we investigated the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Through viral protein screening, we identified Vpr as the protein responsible for increasing m6A modification. Further analysis revealed that HIV-1 infection reduces the level of the m6A demethylase ALKBH5. Vpr deleted HIV-1 infection and Q65R mutant Vpr expression experiments demonstrated that Vpr is capable of degrading ALKBH5 protein via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway by interacting with ALKBH5. Addition of m6A inhibitors or overexpression of ALKBH5 inhibited Vpr-induced microglial activation and the production of inflammatory cytokines, suggesting that the upregulation of m6A modification might play a crucial role in microglial activation induced by Vpr. As microglial activation is a major cause of neuroinflammation leading to neuronal damage, this study provides new insights for understanding the interactions between HIV-1 and microglia, and might provide new ideas for the prevention strategies study on the neuroinflammation caused by HIV-1 infection.

Recently, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have been confirmed as a promising hole-selective contact and interfacial modifier for inverted perovskite solar cells (IPSCs), contributing to an inspiring record power conversion efficiency close to 27%, along with excellent stability. This review demonstrates the critical role of SAMs in enhancing the performance of IPSCs. First, the structure–property and structure–stability relationship of SAMs is systematically expounded by examining their electronic structure, spatial configuration, and the resulting intermolecular forces. Second, it concludes the underlying mechanisms how their unique properties promote the performance of IPSCs, including energy-level alignment, defect passivation, improved interface carrier extraction/transport, and the suppression of ion migration. Third, the applications of SAMs in IPSCs are systematically summarized, covering their roles as hole-selective contacts, interface modifiers, and as components in Co-SAMs strategies. Large-scalable fabrication methods are also summarized to promote industrial processing of IPSCs. Finally, the prevailing challenges and future research directions are outlined, proposing a roadmap for designing SAM-based IPSCs with superior longevity. By critically evaluating the pivotal role of SAMs, this review provides a strategic framework to guide future research and accelerate the development of self-assembled molecules in high-performance and stable photovoltaic devices.

Metal-containing particles are the main component of the positive electrode in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the occurrence and behavior of these particles in wastewater remain inadequately understood. In this study, single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) was employed to systematically track metal-containing particles in wastewater from a ternary precursor (TP) production facility and a full-scale wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Multiple metal particles, including Ni-, Co-, Mn-, Al-, Cu-, and Zn-containing particles, were detected with size ranges of approximately 20-120 nm, 15-200 nm, 10-800 nm, 15-730 nm, 20-120 nm, and 25-925 nm, respectively. The above sentence in abstract should be revised as: Multiple metal particles, including nickel (Ni)-, cobalt (Co)-, manganese (Mn)-, aluminum (Al)-, copper (Cu)-, and zinc (Zn)-containing particles, were detected with size ranges of approximately 20-120 nm, 15-200 nm, 10-800 nm, 15-730 nm, 20-120 nm, and 25-925 nm, respectively. Characterization using transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDS) revealed that these particles consisted of multiple metals and were partly in an agglomerated state. Further analysis demonstrated that the metal-containing particles showed metal-specificity in their dynamic transfer and transformation. Whereas Ni-, Co-, and Al-containing particles exhibited significant size variations, Mn-, Cu-, and Zn-containing particles showed little change. The particle number concentration decreased for Mn, Al, and Zn, increased for Co and Cu, while it remained stable for Ni. This study provides critical insights for improving treatment and management strategies of metal-containing particles in wastewater.