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Abstract Suppression of energy disorders in the vertical direction of a photovoltaic device, along which charge carriers are forced to travel, has been extensively studied to reduce unproductive charge recombination and thus achieve high-efficiency perovskite solar cells. In contrast, energy disorders in the lateral direction of the junction for large-area modules are largely overlooked. Herein, we show that the micro-inhomogeneity characteristics in the surface lateral energetics of formamidinium (FA)-based perovskite films also significantly influence the device performance, particularly with accounting for the stability and scale-up aspects of the devices. By using organic amidinium passivators, instead of the most commonly used organic ammonium ones, the micro-inhomogeneity in the lateral energy landscapes can be suppressed, greatly improving device stability and efficiency of FA-based single-junction perovskite solar cells.

Abstract Abscisic acid (ABA) is the primary preventing factor of seed germination, which is crucial to plant survival and propagation. ABA-induced seed germination inhibition is mainly mediated by the dimeric PYR/PYL/RCAR (PYLs) family members. However, little is known about the relevance between dimeric stability of PYLs and seed germination. Here, we reveal that stabilization of PYL dimer can relieve ABA-induced inhibition of seed germination using chemical genetic approaches. Di-nitrobensulfamide (DBSA), a computationally designed chemical probe, yields around ten-fold improvement in receptor affinity relative to ABA. DBSA reverses ABA-induced inhibition of seed germination mainly through dimeric receptors and recovers the expression of ABA-responsive genes. DBSA maintains PYR1 in dimeric state during protein oligomeric state experiment. X-ray crystallography shows that DBSA targets a pocket in PYL dimer interface and may stabilize PYL dimer by forming hydrogen networks. Our results illustrate the potential of PYL dimer stabilization in preventing ABA-induced seed germination inhibition.

Abstract Molecular computing is an emerging paradigm that plays an essential role in data storage, bio-computation, and clinical diagnosis with the future trends of more efficient computing scheme, higher modularity with scaled-up circuity and stronger tolerance of corrupted inputs in a complex environment. Towards these goals, we construct a spatially localized, DNA integrated circuits-based classifier (DNA IC-CLA) that can perform neuromorphic architecture-based computation at a molecular level for medical diagnosis. The DNA-based classifier employs a two-dimensional DNA origami as the framework and localized processing modules as the in-frame computing core to execute arithmetic operations (e.g. multiplication, addition, subtraction) for efficient linear classification of complex patterns of miRNA inputs. We demonstrate that the DNA IC-CLA enables accurate cancer diagnosis in a faster (about 3 h) and more effective manner in synthetic and clinical samples compared to those of the traditional freely diffusible DNA circuits. We believe that this all-in-one DNA-based classifier can exhibit more applications in biocomputing in cells and medical diagnostics.

Abstract Variations in chromosome number are occasionally observed among oomycetes, a group that includes many plant pathogens, but the emergence of such variations and their effects on genome and virulence evolution remain ambiguous. We generated complete telomere-to-telomere genome assemblies for Phytophthora sojae, Globisporangium ultimum, Pythium oligandrum, and G. spinosum. Reconstructing the karyotype of the most recent common ancestor in Peronosporales revealed that frequent chromosome fusion and fission drove changes in chromosome number. Centromeres enriched with Copia-like transposons may contribute to chromosome fusion and fission events. Chromosome fusion facilitated the emergence of pathogenicity genes and their adaptive evolution. Effectors tended to duplicate in the sub-telomere regions of fused chromosomes, which exhibited evolutionary features distinct to the non-fused chromosomes. By integrating ancestral genomic dynamics and structural predictions, we have identified secreted Ankyrin repeat-containing proteins (ANKs) as a novel class of effectors in P. sojae. Phylogenetic analysis and experiments further revealed that ANK is a specifically expanded effector family in oomycetes. These results revealed chromosome dynamics in oomycete plant pathogens, and provided novel insights into karyotype and effector evolution.

Abstract Perovskite photovoltaics, typically based on a solution-processed perovskite layer with a film thickness of a few hundred nanometres, have emerged as a leading thin-film photovoltaic technology. Nevertheless, many critical issues pose challenges to its commercialization progress, including industrial compatibility, stability, scalability and reliability. A thicker perovskite film on a scale of micrometres could mitigate these issues. However, the efficiencies of thick-film perovskite cells lag behind those with nanometre film thickness. With the mechanism remaining elusive, the community has long been under the impression that the limiting factor lies in the short carrier lifetime as a result of defects. Here, by constructing a perovskite system with extraordinarily long carrier lifetime, we rule out the restrictions of carrier lifetime on the device performance. Through this, we unveil the critical role of the ignored lattice strain in thick films. Our results provide insights into the factors limiting the performance of thick-film perovskite devices.

Abstract Robust hydrogels offer a candidate for artificial skin of bionic robots, yet few hydrogels have a comprehensive performance comparable to real human skin. Here, we present a general method to convert traditional elastomers into tough hydrogels via a unique radiation-induced penetrating polymerization method. The hydrogel is composed of the original hydrophobic crosslinking network from elastomers and grafted hydrophilic chains, which act as elastic collagen fibers and water-rich substances. Therefore, it successfully combines the advantages of both elastomers and hydrogels and provides similar Young’s modulus and friction coefficients to human skin, as well as better compression and puncture load capacities than double network and polyampholyte hydrogels. Additionally, responsive abilities can be introduced during the preparation process, granting the hybrid hydrogels shape adaptability. With these unique properties, the hybrid hydrogel can be a candidate for artificial skin, fluid flow controller, wound dressing layer and many other bionic application scenarios.

Abstract The Prechtl General Movements Assessment (GMA) is increasingly recognized for its role in evaluating the integrity of the developing nervous system and predicting motor dysfunctions, particularly in conditions such as cerebral palsy (CP). However, the necessity for highly trained professionals has hindered the adoption of GMA as an early screening tool in some countries. In this study, we propose a deep learning-based motor assessment model (MAM) that combines infant videos and basic characteristics, with the aim of automating GMA at the fidgety movements (FMs) stage. MAM demonstrates strong performance, achieving an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.967 during external validation. Importantly, it adheres closely to the principles of GMA and exhibits robust interpretability, as it can accurately identify FMs within videos, showing substantial agreement with expert assessments. Leveraging the predicted FMs frequency, a quantitative GMA method is introduced, which achieves an AUC of 0.956 and enhances the diagnostic accuracy of GMA beginners by 11.0%. The development of MAM holds the potential to significantly streamline early CP screening and revolutionize the field of video-based quantitative medical diagnostics.

Abstract Strong electron-photon interactions occurring in a dielectric laser accelerator provide the potential for development of a compact electron accelerator. Theoretically, metallic materials exhibiting notable surface plasmon-field enhancements can possibly generate a high electron acceleration capability. Here, we present a design for metallic material-based on-chip laser-driven accelerators that show a remarkable electron acceleration capability, as demonstrated in ultrafast electron microscopy investigations. Under phase-matching conditions, efficient and continuous acceleration of free electrons on a periodic nanostructure can be achieved. Importantly, an asymmetric spectral structure in which the vast majority of the electrons are in the energy-gain states has been obtained by means of a periodic bowtie-structure accelerator. Due to the presence of surface plasmon enhancement and nonlinear optical effects, the maximum acceleration gradient can reach as high as 0.335 GeV/m. This demonstrates that metallic laser accelerator could provide a way to develop compact accelerators on chip.

Nanoscale intermetallic compounds are promising catalysts but the synthesis remains a challenge. The authors develop a dealloying technique to fabricate nanoporous intermetallic electrocatalysts with fine structures for efficient hydrogen production.

Amyloid self-assembly is linked to type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Here the authors designed constrained peptides which are nanomolar amyloid inhibitors of the key polypeptides IAPP and Aβ42 and act via supramolecular nanofiber co-assembly.

Periprosthetic osteolysis is a cause of arthroplasty failure without available therapies. Here the authors show that Annexin A1 (AnxA1) is involved in in periprosthetic osteolysis and exerts potential therapeutic effects through suppressing NFκB signaling and promoting the PPAR-γ pathway resulting in inhibition of inflammation and osteoclasts differentiation induced by wear debris.

Klotho is an anti-ageing protein whose expression is downregulated in chronic kidney disease, but the large size of the protein makes it challenging to deliver therapeutically. Here, the authors develop a Klotho-derived peptide, and show that it recapitulates the anti-fibrotic action of Klotho and prevents kidney fibrosis in mice by targeting TGF-β signalling.

Mucosal antibodies maintain gut homeostasis, and may influence gut health through modulation of microbiota composition. Here the authors use a CD19-deficient mouse model with deficient B-cell immune responses to uncover an association between humoral immunodeficiency, dysbiosis, and perturbations to bile acid homeostasis in the gut in the context of glute-sensitive enteropathy.

Though non-Hermitian physics has contributed toward the advance of research in quantum, electronic and classical systems, previous work focused on zero- or one-dimensional systems. Here, the authors report higher-order non-Hermitian skin effects in a 2D acoustic higher-order topological insulator.

Higher-order topological phenomenologies are usually observed separately, with each system giving rise to a specific type of topological insulator. Here, the authors realise a nonsymmorphic acoustic metacrystal where the first and the second band gap host dipole and quadrupole topology respectively.

The coarsening of amorphous metallic nanoparticles remains poorly understood. Here, the authors combine high resolution microscopy and atomistic simulations to show the disordered structure of amorphous nanoparticles makes them coarsen faster than crystalline ones.

Here, the authors report the experimental discovery of such a dimensional hierarchy of the topologically-protected 2D surface states, 1D hinge states and 0D corner states in a single 3D acoustic system by using higher-order topological sonic crystals.

Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associates with an elevated risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, the authors find that Nogo-B, an endoplasmic reticulum resident protein, is upregulated by lipid uptake and acts as an oncogene in NAFLD-associated HCC by promoting lipid droplet breakdown by lipophagy and triggering Hippo pathway dysregulation

The mechanism of lithium storage in graphenic carbon remains a fundamental question to be addressed. Here the authors employ suitable bilayer graphene foam to investigate various physiochemical phenomena of lithium intercalation and propose a storage model.

Obesity increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) especially in men. Here the authors find a potential mechanistic explanation by showing that, in mice, obesity-induced STAT3 cooperates with the androgen receptor to activate the mTORC pathway through up regulation of CCRK, resulting in hepatic steatosis worsening and HCC development via metabolic and immune reprogramming.

Valley states can be used to realise topologically protected transport. Here, He et al. show that considering additional degrees of freedom, together with glide symmetry, allow the design of 2D acoustic topological pseudospin-valley coupled saddle surface states in 3D structures.

Memory T cells are essential for combating recurring infection by promoting prompt and effective immune responses. Here the authors show, via system biology approaches, that human CD4 memory T cells contains a CD45RA-rexpressing pool that can be further subsetted by the expression of GPR56 for distinct functionalities.

The sodium channel NaV1.6 is widely expressed in neurons of the central and peripheral nervous systems, which plays a critical role in regulating neuronal excitability. Dysfunction of NaV1.6 has been linked to epileptic encephalopathy, intellectual disability and movement disorders. Here we present cryo-EM structures of human NaV1.6/β1/β2 alone and complexed with a guanidinium neurotoxin 4,9-anhydro-tetrodotoxin (4,9-ah-TTX), revealing molecular mechanism of NaV1.6 inhibition by the blocker. The apo-form structure reveals two potential Na+ binding sites within the selectivity filter, suggesting a possible mechanism for Na+ selectivity and conductance. In the 4,9-ah-TTX bound structure, 4,9-ah-TTX binds to a pocket similar to the tetrodotoxin (TTX) binding site, which occupies the Na+ binding sites and completely blocks the channel. Molecular dynamics simulation results show that subtle conformational differences in the selectivity filter affect the affinity of TTX analogues. Taken together, our results provide important insights into NaV1.6 structure, ion conductance, and inhibition. NaV1.6 channel plays a critical role in neuronal excitability. Here, authors present human NaV1.6 structures in apo and 4,9-anhydro-tetrodotoxin bound forms, which reveal molecular mechanisms of NaV1.6 Na+ conductance and inhibition by the blocker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]