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We investigate the contact electrificationoccurring when a smallwater droplet resting on a metal electrode is brought periodicallyin contact with a hydrophobic film of fluorinated ethylene propylene.It is found that the maximum current increases with the drop volumeaccording to a power law. The time scale for the contact current todevelop is consistent with that required for a droplet to spread andis, therefore, longer than the time required to form the electricdouble layer. Adding salt into the water does reduce the contact currentbut not entirely, which suggests that any remaining water layer cannotentirely neutralize the charges developed upon contact. With an averagepower of 0.7 μW and a peak power near 5 μW at a frequencyof 5 Hz, a 200 μL droplet of pure water can be used to lightup a light-emitting diode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thechemical dissolution of lime particles in molten CaO–Al2O3–SiO2-based slags was observedby using a confocal scanning laser microscope (CSLM) in a temperaturerange from 1450 to 1600 °C. The dissolution behavior was foundto be largely dependent on temperature and slag chemistry. A considerableincrease in the dissolution rate was observed at elevated temperatures.The in situobservations revealed that the dissolutionprocess in the slags containing MgO was controlled by chemical reactionsat the interface. For slags without MgO, the dissolution could bedivided into three stages when an interfacial reaction (IR) layerformed at the interface. The dissolution was limited by chemical reactionsduring the early stage, a mixed control of product layer and boundarylayer diffusion during the intermediate stage, and boundary layerdiffusion control in the final stage. The IR layer formed during dissolutionat the interface between the lime particles, and the liquid slag freeof MgO was clearly a kinetic barrier for dissolution. A dissolutionfactor was defined to evaluate the dissolution mechanisms quantitativelyby coupling the resistance and the driving forces of dissolution indifferent slags. This factor provided direct evidence that the additionof MgO in CaO–Al2O3–SiO2slags is beneficial for lime dissolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the postpandemic era, the emergence of "long COVID" from SARS-CoV-2 has brought ongoing negative impacts on individual health and society. The development of more efficient methods for drug screening and monitoring viral activity remains a critical need. The main protease (M pro ), due to its important role in the virus lifecycle, high conservation, and specificity, is considered an ideal biomarker for SARS-CoV-2. Herein, we have developed several chemiluminescence probes based on different substrates modified from covalent inhibitors targeted at M pro . Among these, the best probe, MPCL-2, exhibits a rapid response (<20 min), an extremely low limit of detection (LoD; 0.11 nM), great selectivity, and chemical stability. After validating the probe's mechanism of action, MPCL-2 can also be used for real-time, in-situ imaging of enzymes in cells infected with the authentic virus and has the potential for real-time, in-situ M pro imaging in vivo . Compared to other methods reported to date, the probe demonstrates superior performance and broader applicability, such as in drug screening or virus activity monitoring. Further, the unique design strategy for the substrate can be adopted to develop sensitive probes for other pathogens.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a protein-coated, single-stranded RNA virus that parasitizes and infects primates, including humans. The current detection methods are mainly carried out using humans as a medium, such as a chest computed tomography (CT) examination, nucleic acid detection, antibody detection, and antigen detection. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 in bioaerosols is an important way of transmission and infection, which has attracted wide attention. In this paper, we simulate a sampling system of SARS-CoV-2 in bioaerosols and detect SARS-CoV-2 in bioaerosols by means of a magnetoelastic (ME) sensing device based on an Android intelligent terminal, which can directly detect SARS-CoV-2 in bioaerosols in a certain unit environment. This approach aims to achieve early detection and prevention. The experimental results show that the sampling system can successfully collect SARS-CoV-2 in bioaerosols. In the linear range of 5-20 ng/mL, the ME sensing detection system results closely match those of the calibration instrument (VNA), with goodness-of-fit values of 0.997 and 0.995, respectively. This work demonstrates that the ME sensing detection system proposed is stable, highly specific, real-time, rapid, and has certain reference values and feasibility.

With the growing interest in microalgae as a sustainable food source, concerns about potential chemical contaminants in these products have emerged. In this study, a sensitive and reliable LC-MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous detection of thiocyanate, perchlorate, and chlorate in edible microalgae samples. The method was validated with excellent linearity (R 2 > 0.998), low detection limits (LOD: 1-8 μg/kg), quantification limits (LOQ: 4-26 μg/kg), and high recovery rates (75-101.9%) across different sample types. We collected a total of 77 microalgae products based on the available varieties in the market, including 43 Spirulina powder samples, 10 Chlorella powder samples, and 24 microalgae-based food products, sourced from key microalgae production regions in China. The contamination levels for thiocyanate (median: 1843.06-2645.72 μg/kg) and perchlorate (median: 23.29-31.4 μg/kg) were consistently quantitated in all samples, while chlorate concentrations showed greater variability (median: 18.94-160.21 μg/kg). Risk assessment revealed a significant dietary exposure risk to thiocyanate, with estimated daily intake (EDI) values exceeding the EPA's subchronic reference dose, whereas no significant risk was identified for perchlorate or chlorate. Monte Carlo simulations further supported the conclusion that perchlorate and chlorate posed minimal dietary risks, while thiocyanate exposure warrants concern. This study not only provides a foundational method for monitoring these contaminants in microalgae but also contributes critical data for future food safety standards and regulatory practices regarding edible microalgae products.

Zeolites are essential solid acid catalysts in various chemical processes. Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) is one of the most established techniques used to characterize the acidity of zeolites by measuring the desorption kinetics of probes from bulk samples. However, conventional TPD can hardly deliver the intrinsic acid properties of zeolites because the apparent desorption kinetics are inevitably mixed with mass transfer and thermal conduction due to the large sample amount (∼0.1 g). Herein, we developed an optical microscopy approach to measure the TPD spectra of single zeolite nanoparticles, termed oTPD, by in situ monitoring of the reduced scattering intensity of individuals as a result of the desorption of probe molecules during heating. A significantly reduced sample amount contributed to the oTPD spectrum, revealing an intrinsic desorption temperature of ∼300 °C lower than the apparent value and also a greatly narrowed peak width from ∼150 to ∼15 °C. Correlating oTPD and micro-Raman spectra of the very same individuals further uncovered a linear dependence between the acidity and the content of silicon islands. This study provided unprecedented capabilities for measuring the intrinsic acid properties and the desorption kinetics of single zeolite nanoparticles, with implications for better understanding the structure-acidity relationship and for designing better zeolite catalysts.

NiFe layered double hydroxide (NiFe LDH) derived oxyhydroxides are promising electrocatalysts for the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, NiFe LDH with a stable metal-oxygen-metal (M-O-M) structure suffers from inadequate NiFe interaction, leading to undesirable activity and stability. Herein, we develop a NiFe hydroxide-organic framework (NiFe HOF) via modification of NiFe LDH with an organic linker to break the structural constraint of M-O-M and thus boost the OER. NiFe HOF with reconfigurable metal sites facilitates structural reengineering under the OER condition to form abundant NiFe interaction and prolonged M-O bonds, stimulating lattice oxygen mechanism. Therefore, NiFe HOF shows a distinctly decreased overpotential at 50 mA cm -2 , which is 68 mV lower than that of NiFe LDH. The anion exchange membrane electrolyzer using NiFe HOF as anode electrode displays ultralong stability exceeding 1050 h at 1 A cm -2 with a low attenuation of 0.16 mV h -1 .

Staphylococcus worderi KYS-164, isolated from homemade Tibetan kefir grains, produces bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS), which are peptides with antimicrobial properties, but have not been fully characterized. The research on BLIS will lay the foundation for mining new bacteriocins. In this study, the optimal culture conditions for the production of highly active BLIS were found to be incubation at 30 °C and 120 rpm, and the most effective extraction method was ammonium sulfate precipitation (ASP) using ammonium sulfate at 80% saturation. The postantibiotic effect (PAE) of BLIS on Staphylococcus aureus CICC 10384 is significant, with a 4 × MIC BLIS concentration able to prolong the PAE to 2.39 h. BLIS has excellent biosafety, with no deleterious effects observed at 8 × MIC concentration. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) was used to analyze the volatile compounds synthesized by Staphylococcus warneri KYS-164 during its growth. Hydroxycitronellal, ethyl pyruvate, and α-pinene were found to be unique substances produced by this strain, which can provide fresh, refreshing floral and fruity aromas as well as strong pine and resinous aromas in the process of kefir grain fermentation of milk. Analysis of the S. warneri KYS-164 genome provided insights into the major metabolic pathways in which genes expressed in this strain are involved. This study represents the first isolation of S. warneri KYS-164 from kefir grains prepared by Tibetan families, and provides a comprehensive analysis of its physicochemical properties. This research provides a solid foundation for better understanding and utilization of S. warneri KYS-164.

The state-of-the-art layered oxide as the cathode material for lithium-ion batteries has attracted wide attention; however, harsh operations of high-energy and high-safety energy-storage technology at high temperature is challenging owing to the aggravated structural instability and parasitic reactions at the cathodes. Herein, the layered/olivine composite structure architecture is designed at the grain surface to govern constant electrochemistry in a harsh environment, and a gradient LiF interlayer is developed onto the cathodes to suppress the interfacial degradation. By a combination of interfacial-sensitive characterizations and theoretical analysis at the cathode/interface, the formation mechanism of this special interphase induced by the composite structure cathode is revealed. The composite structure cathode could deliver an excellent high-temperature cycling stability with 90.8% retention for 300 cycles in the half cell and 95.6% retention for 1000 cycles in the pouch cell and simultaneously enhances ∼51% of the thermal stability, which broadens the approaches for developing high-stable cathodes that work in extreme environments.

Coumarin, a naturally occurring active ingredient with various biological activities in pesticides, is commonly found in plants belonging to the Rutaceae and Apiaceae families. Thanks to its unique structural properties and natural benefits, coumarin and its derivatives exhibit a wide range of physiological activities, including insecticidal, antifungal, antibacterial, herbicidal, and antiviral properties. These compounds have attracted considerable interest in the field of pesticide development, although there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on their use in pesticides. This Review aims to provide a detailed overview of the applications of coumarin and its derivatives in pesticides, covering biological activities, structure-activity relationship analyses, and mechanisms of action. It is hoped that this Review will offer new insights into the discovery and mechanisms of these compounds in pesticide development.

There is increasing evidence that particulate matter (PM) pollution may adversely impact cognition. Considering that sleep is critical for cognitive health and occupies about one-third of human life, understanding the cognitive effects of indoor PM exposure during sleep and the potential cognitive benefits of reducing such exposure is crucial, yet currently unknown. This randomized, double-blind crossover intervention trial was conducted among 80 college students with real and sham PM filtration in their dormitories. Real-time indoor PM levels and nocturnal sleep parameters were monitored, followed by quantification of serum neurotransmitter metabolites and cognitive assessments in the mornings. We found that PM exposure during sleep, particularly PM 1 and PM 2.5 , affected immediate and delayed memory, executive function, and global cognition. Reducing PM exposure during sleep resulted in improvements in multiple cognitive domains, with a 0.21 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.36) increase in global cognitive z-score, in which increased sleep oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) and alterations in dopamine metabolism and histidine metabolism played important roles. Notably, even when indoor PM 2.5 levels were below the WHO air quality guidelines, further reducing PM exposure could still improve sleep SpO 2 and neurotransmitter metabolism. This study provides a promising strategy to mitigate indoor PM-induced cognitive impairment.

The loading of photocatalysts on hydrogels can significantly reduce the loss of catalysts and effectively prevent secondary contamination, thus demonstrating great application potential and advantages in the field of wastewater treatment, especially in the removal of dyes. Herein, the semiconductor TiO 2 was successfully loaded into a polyacrylic acid/chitosan (PAA/CS) double-network (DN) hydrogel, which exhibited superior removal of dyes in wastewater such as MG, MB, MV, and RhB. The dye degradation process followed first-order kinetics, and the first-order rate constants for dye degradation were further calculated under UV light irradiation. Furthermore, the photocatalytic mechanism of the hydrogel was explored and analyzed. More interestingly, the PAA/CS-TiO 2 DN hydrogel has excellent tensile properties and superior electrical conductivity, which can be assembled into flexible sensors for real-time monitoring of mechanical deformations and human joint motions. It is envisioned that these excellent properties make hydrogel photocatalysts promising for a wide range of applications.

Mild mitochondrial uncoupling offers therapeutic benefits for various diseases like obesity by regulating cellular energy metabolism. However, effective chemical intervention tools for inducing mild mitochondria-targeted uncoupling are limited. Herein, we have developed a mitochondria-targeted H 2 S prodrug M1 with a unique property of on-demand photoactivated generation of H 2 S accompanied by self-reporting fluorescence for real-time tracking. Upon photoirradiation, M1 decomposes in mitochondria to generate H 2 S and a turn-on fluorescent coumarin derivative for the visualization and quantification of H 2 S. M1 is confirmed to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent mild mitochondrial uncoupling, activating mitochondria-associated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to suppress palmitic acid (PA)-induced lipid deposition in hepatocytes. The uncoupling functions induced by M1 are strictly controlled in mitochondria, representing a fresh strategy to prevent lipid deposition and improve metabolic syndrome by increasing cellular energy expenditure.

Photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) production encounters a major impediment in its low solar-to-chemical conversion (SCC) efficiency due to undesired H 2 O 2 product decomposition. Herein, an isolated nickel (Ni) atom modification strategy is developed to adjust the thermodynamic process of H 2 O 2 production to address the challenge. Sacrificial experiments and in situ characterization reveal that H 2 O 2 generation occurs via a highly selective indirect two-electron oxygen reduction reaction. The optimized photocatalyst exhibits a remarkable H 2 O 2 production rate of 338.9 μmol g cat -1 h -1 in pure water, representing a 48-fold enhancement. Notably, it attains an impressive SCC efficiency of 1.05%, surpassing that of current state-of-the-art catalysts. Theoretical insights reveal the downshifted d-band center facilitates moderate O 2 adsorption and barrier-free *OOH conversion, favoring H 2 O 2 release and preventing *H 2 O 2 decomposition. This work showcases efficient H 2 O 2 photosynthesis via d-band manipulation, presenting a fresh perspective for advancing high-efficiency SCC systems.

In response to the current policy of high storage capacity, two-dimensional (2D) materials have revealed promising prospects as high-performance electrode materials. MoB, as a type of such material, is widely regarded as an anode candidate for Li-ion batteries due to its large specific surface area and abundant ion diffusion channels; the long-term cycling stability, however, is poor owing to material pulverization during the cycle. Therefore, MoB/Si 3 N 4 heterojunction in this work is proposed as an anode material, with Si 3 N 4 acting as a skeleton, maintaining the stability of the structure, while retaining the high energy storage properties of MoB as well. In addition, a certain built-in electric field is formed between them, which can play a role in regulating charge transfer, improving the ion transport channel, and accelerating the migration rate. Herein, the structural, electronic, and electrochemical properties are systematically investigated by first-principles calculations; the final results indicate that the heterojunction anode material does indeed have built-in electric fields, which promote the anode material to possess excellent electrical conductivity and outstanding electrochemical property. Meanwhile, the introduction of vacancy defects can bolster the diffusion kinetic performance of ion transport and greatly reduce the diffusion energy barrier of Li ions, which is conducive to the realization of rapid charge and discharge for the Li ion battery. Based on the synergistic effect of two single-component materials, the synthesized anode material displays a high theoretical capacity of 461 mAh/g, and the calculated open-circuit voltage is 0.66 V, within the range of the negative electrode criterion of 0-1 V, which can effectively play a role in preventing the formation of Li dendrites; these properties are comparable to other 2D anode materials as well. Given these intriguing properties, the MoB/Si 3 N 4 heterojunction is an exceptional candidate for advanced LIB high-performance anode materials.

Catalytic CO x (CO and CO 2 ) hydrogenation to valued chemicals is one of the promising approaches to address challenges in energy, environment, and climate change. H 2 O is an inevitable side product in these reactions, where its existence and effect are often ignored. In fact, H 2 O significantly influences the catalytic active centers, reaction mechanism, and catalytic performance, preventing us from a definitive and deep understanding on the structure-performance relationship of the authentic catalysts. It is necessary, although challenging, to clarify its effect and provide practical strategies to tune the concentration and distribution of H 2 O to optimize its influence. In this review, we focus on how H 2 O in CO x hydrogenation induces the structural evolution of catalysts and assists in the catalytic processes, as well as efforts to understand the underlying mechanism. We summarize and discuss some representative tuning strategies for realizing the rapid removal or local enrichment of H 2 O around the catalysts, along with brief techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment. These fundamental understandings and strategies are further extended to the reactions of CO and CO 2 reduction under an external field (light, electricity, and plasma). We also present suggestions and prospects for deciphering and controlling the effect of H 2 O in practical applications.

Chiral plasmonic nanomaterials─with their significant applications in protein detection, drug screening, and enantioselective sensing─necessitate an industrialized fabrication procedure to enhance their commercial viability. However, the prevailing manufacturing of chiral plasmonic nanoparticles and assemblies heavily leans on manual intervention, causing time-consuming and quality-inconsistent concerns. Here, we develop an automated, continuous mechanical synthesis system that consistently sprays metal nanowires to create chiroplasmonic assemblies: a macroscopic twisted layered structure comprising equivalent linear birefringence layers, approximate linear polarizer layers, and a precise angular offset between them. Utilizing the synthesis-with-automation system, we scale up the production of chiral plasmonic films, generating high optical asymmetry ( g -factor, with the order of 10 -1 ) across a broadband ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths. We further introduce the portable chiral sensing, expanding plasmonic assemblies into flexible materials and integrating them with wearable real-time display devices. Our mechanically driven, continuous synthesis of chiral plasmonic structures presents an intriguing pathway to facilitate functional chiral structures toward practice.

Hollow carbon-nitrogen nanoreactors constitute a class of porous materials that have widespread application owing to their large inner cavities, low densities, core-shell interfaces, and enrichment effects. Direct carbonization of precursors is the simplest and most economical method to prepare porous carbon-nitrogen materials; however, this method requires high temperatures, thus yielding nonoxide structures. In this study, CuO-ZnO@CN (CN: carbon-nitrogen layers) is prepared using the two-step heating of zeolitic imidazolium skeleton-8 (ZIF-8) coated with CuO-ZnO precursors. During carbonization, the ZIF-8 nanoparticles are converted into carbon-nitrogen layers at high temperatures. Next, a heating process based on the autocatalytic effect of Cu can be used to etch the hollow structure prepared by the carbon-nitrogen layers. The CuO-ZnO@CN hollow composites fabricated using this method exhibit excellent catalytic properties for the ethynylation of formaldehyde. The proposed strategy can be used to develop techniques for syntheses of readily reducible carbon oxide claddings and their composites.

Hydroxylamine, as an important reducing agent, disinfectant, foaming agent, and biocide, plays a role in both human life and industrial production. However, its synthesis is confronted with challenges, such as high pollution and large consumption. Here, we propose a coordination tailoring strategy to design 47 graphene-supported single iron atom catalysts (SACs), namely, Fe@C x Z y (Z = B, N, O, P, and S), for the reduction of nitric oxide to hydroxylamine. Using density functional theory calculations, we demonstrated the great impact of the coordination environment on the stability, catalytic selectivity, and activity of the Fe site. We identified that the experimentally available Fe@N 4 possesses an ultralow theoretical limiting potential of -0.32 V compared to that of other catalysts. A comprehensive investigation of the electronic properties elucidates the underlying active origin and reaction mechanism of the nitric oxide reduction reaction to hydroxylamine on Fe@N 4 . These results not only explain the catalytic origin of synthesized SACs for the NH 2 OH production but also offer theoretical guidance for further optimizing high-performance catalysts.

In this study, a MoO 3 @TiO 2 composite core-shell material was developed to remove Rhodamine B (RhB) dye through synergistic adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. n-n heterostructures were formed by coupling n-type semiconductors to enhance the efficiency of photocarrier separation and photocatalytic performance. MoO 3 , which possesses strong adsorption capacity, was primarily used as a dye adsorbent. Additionally, the formation of an n-n heterojunction with TiO 2 enabled MoO 3 to expand the photocorresponding range of TiO 2 , leading to the generation of superoxide (O 2 • ) and hydroxyl ( • OH) free radicals for dye degradation. The experimental results demonstrate that the MoO 3 @TiO 2 core-shell composite exhibits excellent performance for RhB dye removal, with adsorption and degradation rates reaching 35.7 and 70.3%, respectively, even at low catalyst concentrations. This approach offers new insights into the development of MoO 3 core-shell photocatalysts.

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) is the culprit behind the browning of fruits and vegetables. Therefore, how to reduce the thermal deactivation temperature of PPO or use as few safe reagents as possible to inhibit enzymatic browning has practical significance. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are stable and have high biosafety. In the present study, efficient PPO inhibitors were developed based on MSNs and MWCNTs. It is found that after modification with a very small amount of dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB, ≥60 μg/mL), MSNs can significantly inhibit the activity of PPO although single MSNs and single DTAB show very limited effect on PPO activity. After modification with a very small amount of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, 5.7-9.5 μg/mL), MWCNTs almost completely inactivate PPO. However, SDS@MSN and DTAB@MWCNT cannot decrease PPO activity significantly.

Due to the uncertain differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs), replenishing lost neurons by endogenous neural differentiation to repair spinal cord injury (SCI) remains challenging. The electrical stimulation-induced drug release is a promising approach for the localized and controlled release of drugs to regulate the differentiation of NSCs into neurons. Here, we developed Zn-PDA@BT nanoparticles acted as Trojan Horse to enter cells through endocytosis for Zn 2+ -controlled release therapy by the potentials generated by the piezoelectric effect. Due to the presence of polydopamine (PDA), under ultrasound stimulation, the electrical signal derived from the piezoelectric effect of barium titanate nanoparticles can be attracted to the surface of Trojan Horse nanoparticles to facilitate the controlled release of Zn 2+ . And Zn 2+ bonded with PDA can increase the intracellular Zn 2+ concentration within mouse-derived NSCs (mNSCs) to regulate the differentiation of mNSCs, which could enhance excitatory neuronal differentiation and inhibit astrocyte differentiation of mNSCs by activating the TGF-β and p53 pathways. More importantly, this Trojan Horse therapy allowed mNSCs to differentiate into mature neurons in 5 days, while the natural differentiation process took 10 days. Moreover, the transplantation of mNSC-ingested Zn-PDA@BT nanoparticles effectively replenished lost neurons at the damaged site and promoted function recovery after SCI in vivo, demonstrating the great potential of electrical stimulation-induced Zn 2+ release for SCI repair.

Fluorescent molecular platforms are highly sought after for their applications in biology and optoelectronics but face challenges with solid-state emission quenching. To address this, bulky substituents or aggregation-induced emission luminogens to restrict intramolecular motion are used to enhance the brightness. Here, we have successfully engineered a novel class of boron complexed pyrrolide salicyl-hydrazone fluorophores named BPSHY. These dyes were synthesized through a diversity-oriented condensation of pyrrole and salicylaldehyde derivatives combined with various aromatic boronic acids. The resulting 3D structures, owing to bulky boron axially substituted aryl groups, impart excellent solubility in a variety of solvents. Significantly, the BPSHY dyes exhibit strong absorption in the visible region and remarkably large Stokes shifts. Crucially, they demonstrate intense emission in aqueous solutions due to aggregation-induced emission effects. In solid-states, these dyes achieve high quantum yields, reaching up to 58%. Further expanding their utility, we developed two new BPSHY probes: one incorporating morpholine and another containing triphenylphosphine salt. Both of them are found to specifically label subcellular organelles such as lysosomes and mitochondria within live cells. Notably, these probes demonstrate exceptional staining efficacy and two-photon fluorescence feature. This highlights the considerable promise of BPSHY fluorophores for monitoring and visualizing the dynamic transformations of organelles.

To solve large volume change and low conductivity of Bi 2 S 3 -based anodes, a coordination regulation strategy is proposed to prepare Bi 2 S 3 nanoparticles dispersed in carbon fiber (Bi 2 S 3 @CNF) composites. It has been discovered that introducing trimesic acid as a ligand can significantly improve the loading and dispersion of Bi 3+ in polyacrylonitrile fibers. The results exhibit that Bi 2 S 3 nanoparticles of 200-300 nm are uniformly anchored on the superficial surface layer of CNFs, and Bi 2 S 3 nanoparticles of about 20 nm are evenly dispersed in the interior of CNFs. Assessed as sodium-ion batteries' anode material, the discharge capacity of the Bi 2 S 3 @CNF anode in the second cycle is 669.3 mAh g -1 at 0.1 A g -1 and still retains 620.2 mAh g -1 after 100 cycles, with the capacity retention rate of 92.7%. Even at 0.5 A g -1 , the specific capacity of the second cycle is 432.99 mAh g -1 , which still keeps 400.9 mAh g -1 after 800 cycles, with a retention rate of 92.5%. The excellent cycle stability is mainly attributed to the uniform distribution of small Bi 2 S 3 nanoparticles in CNFs providing abundant active sites, preventing side reactions, relieving volume expansion, improving the electrical conductivity, and accelerating the electrochemical reaction kinetics.

Myelination and the formation of nodes of Ranvier are essential for the rapid conduction of nerve impulses along axons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). While many animal-based and serum-containing models of peripheral myelination have been developed, these have limited ability when it comes to studying genetic disorders affecting peripheral myelination. We report a fully induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived human model of peripheral myelination using Schwann cells (SCs) and motoneurons, cultured in a serum-free medium on patterned and nonpatterned surfaces. Results demonstrated iPSC-derived SC-expressed early growth response protein 2 (Egr2), a key transcription factor for myelination, and after ∼30 days in coculture, hallmark features of myelination, including myelin segment and node of Ranvier formation, were observed. Myelin segments were stained for the myelin basic protein, which surrounded neurofilament-stained motoneuron axons. Clusters of voltage-gated sodium channels flanked by paranodal protein contactin-associated protein 1, indicating node of Ranvier formation, were also observed. High-resolution confocal microscopy allowed for 3D reconstruction and measurement of myelin g-ratios of myelin segments, with an average g-ratio of 0.67, consistent with reported values in the literature, indicating mature myelin segment formation. This iPSC-based model of peripheral myelination provides a platform to investigate numerous PNS diseases, including Charcot-Marie Tooth disorder, Guillian-Barre syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and antimyelin-associated glycoprotein peripheral neuropathy, with the potential for greater translatability to humans for improving the applicability for drug-screening programs.

DNA is a kind of flexible and versatile biomaterial for constructing nanostructures and nanodevices. Due to high biocompatibility and programmability and easy modification and fabrication, DNA nanotechnology has emerged as a powerful tool for application in intracellular targeted protein degradation. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the design and mechanism of targeted protein degradation technologies such as protein hydrolysis targeted chimeras, lysosomal targeted chimeras, and autophagy based protein degradation. Subsequently, we introduce the DNA nanotechnologies of DNA cascade circuits, DNA nanostructures, and dynamic machines. Moreover, we present the latest developments in DNA nanotechnologies in targeted protein degradation. Finally, the vision and challenges are discussed.

Each organelle referring to a complex multiorder architecture executes respective biological processes via its distinct spatial organization and internal microenvironment. As the assembly of biomolecules is the structural basis of living cells, creating synthetic nanoassemblies with specific physicochemical and morphological properties in living cells to interfere or couple with the natural organelle architectures has attracted great attention in precision therapeutics of cancers. In this review, we give an overview of the latest advances in the synthetic nanoassemblies for precise organelle regulation, including the formation mechanisms, triggering strategies, and biomedical applications in precision therapeutics. We summarize the emerging material systems, including polymers, peptides, and deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs), and their respective intermolecular interactions for intercellular synthetic nanoassemblies, and highlight their design principles in constructing precursors that assemble into synthetic nanoassemblies targeting specific organelles in the complex cellular environment. We further showcase the developed intracellular synthetic nanoassemblies targeting specific organelles including mitochondria, the endoplasmic reticulum, lysosome, Golgi apparatus, and nucleus and describe their underlying mechanisms for organelle regulation and precision therapeutics for cancer. Last, the essential challenges in this field and prospects for future precision therapeutics of synthetic nanoassemblies are discussed. This review should facilitate the rational design of organelle-targeting synthetic nanoassemblies and the comprehensive recognition of organelles by materials and contribute to the deep understanding and application of the synthetic nanoassemblies for precision therapeutics.

Melamine-derived mesoporous carbon, which was obtained from pyrolysis of modified melamine, was employed for the purpose of eliminating trace amounts of Hg(II) from honeysuckle decoction. The specific surface area of the mesoporous carbons with N-functional (MCN 1 ) was 648.372 m 2 ·g -1 . The chemical composition and morphology of MCN 1 were thoroughly examined, and a comprehensive analysis led to the identification of its formation mechanism. A noteworthy association has been identified between the adsorption efficacy and the chemical composition of MCN 1 . In the elimination of trace mercury in aqueous solutions over a broad pH range (pH 2-9), MCN 1 demonstrates high effectiveness, approaching 100%. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm results indicate that a more accurate representation of Hg(II) adsorption on MCN 1 is provided by pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich models, with chemical adsorption being the dominant mechanism. This study further examined the removal of chlorogenic acid, a bioactive component, by MCN 1 . The findings imply that MCN 1 has a noteworthy 80% efficacy in removing mercury from honeysuckle decoction while maintaining the purity of its medicinal ingredients, particularly chlorogenic acid. As a result, utilizing MCN 1 for the adsorption of Hg(II) in honeysuckle decoction appears to be a reasonable approach., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Atherosclerosis-induced coronary artery disease is a major cause of cardiovascular mortality. Clinically, conservative treatment strategies for atherosclerosis still focus on lifestyle interventions and the use of lipid-lowering and anticoagulant medications. Despite achieving some therapeutic effects, these approaches are limited by low bioavailability, long intervention periods, and significant side effects. With the advancement of nanotechnology, nanomaterials have demonstrated extraordinary potential in the biomedical field. Their excellent biocompatibility, surface modifiability, and high targeting capability not only enable efficient diagnosis of plaque progression but also allow precise drug delivery within atherosclerotic plaques, significantly enhancing drug bioavailability and reducing systemic side effects. Here, we systematically review the current research progress of nanomaterials in the field of atherosclerosis to summarize not only the types of nanomaterials but also their applications in both the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis. Notably, in the context of plaque therapy, we provide a comprehensive overview of current nanomaterial applications based on their targeted therapeutic systems for different cell types within plaques. Additionally, we address the persistent challenge of clinical translation of nanomaterials by summarizing current issues and providing directions for innovation and improvement in nanomaterial design. Overall, we believe that this review systematically summarizes the applications and challenges of biomedical nanomaterials in atherosclerosis diagnosis and therapy, thereby offering insights and references for the development of therapeutic materials for atherosclerosis.

The advancement of molecular electronics endeavors to build miniaturized electronic devices using molecules as the key building blocks by harnessing their internal structures and electronic orbitals. To date, linear planar conjugated or cross-conjugated molecules have been extensively employed in the fabrication of single-molecule devices, benefiting from their good conductivity and compatibility with electrode architectures. However, the development of multifunctional single-molecule devices, particularly those with unique charge transport properties, necessitates a more rigorous selection of molecular materials. Among different assortments of molecules suited for the construction of molecular circuits, Spiro-conjugated structures, specifically spirobifluorene derivatives, stand out as promising candidates due to their distinctive electronic properties. In this work, we focus on the charge transport characteristics of Spiro-conjugated molecules sandwiched between graphene nanogaps. Experiments reveal significant Coulomb blockade and distinct negative differential conductance effects. Beyond two-terminal device measurements, solid-state gate electrodes are utilized to create single-molecule transistors, successfully modulating the molecular energy levels to achieve an on/off ratio exceeding 1000. This endeavor not only offers valuable insights into the design and fabrication of future practical molecular devices, blessed with enhanced performance and functionality, but also presents a new paradigm for the investigation of fundamental physical phenomena.

The position and cis - trans configuration of C═C bonds in unsaturated lipids significantly affect their biological activities. Simultaneous identification of the position and cis - trans configuration of C═C bonds in unsaturated lipids is important; nonetheless, it still remains a challenging task. Herein, a stereoselective asymmetric reaction was used to recognize cis - trans isomers of the C═C bonds, and the derivatized precursor ions and product ions were subjected to tandem ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS) analysis. The theoretical calculation revealed that the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds after the cyclization reaction amplified the structural difference between diastereomers and increased the separation efficiency in IM. Consequently, a simple, sensitive, and highly selective platform for simultaneous determination of the position and cis - trans configuration of various C═C bonds in unsaturated lipids was established. It was then successfully applied to pinpoint the cis - trans geometry conversion of the located C═C bonds in lipids of the bacterial membrane under environmental stress and track the heterogeneous distribution of unsaturated lipids in rats after spinal cord injury. The present study also offers new insights into the application of IM-MS technology in resolving molecular structures and demonstrates the potential as a platform for a broad range of applications.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been demonstrated as an effective method for elucidating secondary structural characteristics of DNA. However, the inherent complexity of the DNA conformation and the lack of SERS samples pose challenges for identifying numerous secondary structures. To address these issues, a synergistic method integrating machine learning with SERS was proposed so as to analyze the SERS spectra of 54 well-defined conformational oligonucleotides, namely, G-quadruplex (G4), i-motif (iM), double-strand (DS), and single-strand (SS) configurations. Principal component analysis (PCA) effectively segregated the oligonucleotides into three distinct conformational groups (G4s, iMs, and others). Furthermore, linear discriminant analysis (LDA), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), and support vector machine (SVM) approaches were utilized to improve the typing accuracy of 54 trained sequences. This enabled the correct classification of the structures of five untrained sequences, as well as the identification of the predominant conformations including G4, iM, and DS formed by two complementary G-rich and C-rich sequences in acidic and neutral pH conditions. The results of this study demonstrated the potential of the proposed methodology for rapid screening and prediction of secondary DNA conformations.

The management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) continues to pose significant challenges due to the absence of curative therapies and a high rate of recurrence. Therefore, it is imperative to explore novel approaches to enhance the efficacy of IBD therapy. Herein, a bioactive nanoparticulate s is tailored designed to achieve a "Pull-Push" approach for efficient and safe IBD treatment by integrating reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging (Pull) with anti-inflammatory agent delivery (Push) in the inflammatory microenvironment. The multifunctional nanomedicine, designated MON-PAMAM@SASP, is developed through the encapsulation of sulfasalazine (SASP), a widely utilized clinical drug for the treatment of IBD, within cationic diselenide-bridged mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (MONs) that possess significant antioxidant properties. Herein, poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) endows the original MONs with positive charge characteristics. The MON-PAMAM@SASP not only displays the remarkable capability of neutralizing ROS to ameliorates intestinal damage, but also achieves controllable release of SASP to mitigate intestinal inflammation. Consequently, this nanomedicine effectively mitigates IBD by colitis in mouse models, and our current research has not identified any significant drug toxicity. Beyond regulating inflammatory microenvironment in intestine, treatment with MON-PAMAM@SASP results in increased richness and restores intestinal microbiota homeostasis, thereby mitigating IBD to a certain extent. Together, our work provides a highly versatile "Pull-Push" approach for IBD management and encourages the development of similar nanomedicine to treating multiple inflammatory diseases of gastrointestinal tract.

Two-dimensional (2D) ZnO nanomaterials are promising for gas sensing, because of their large surface area, abundant active sites, and rapid charge transfer. However, it is challenging to prepare 2D ZnO nanosheet gas sensors with high sensing performance, due to the tight interlayer stack and low adsorptive property of ZnO for NO 2 molecules. Herein, we synthesized Zn-MOF nanosheets employing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the structure-directing agent, further through pyrolysis of the Zn-MOF to obtain 2D ZnO nanosheet gas sensors. As anticipated, the 2D ZnO gas sensors exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity for NO 2 , and the optimal sample could achieve a response value of 162 at the working temperature of 160 °C, which is 10 times higher than that of pristine ZnO. Meanwhile, experimental and DFT results showed that PVP plays critical roles in the lateral lattice growth of 2D Zn-MOF nanosheets, while the existence of PVP makes the ZnO gas sensors with rich porous property and more oxygen vacancy after the pyrolysis process, which promoted the adsorption, activity, and surface reaction for NO 2 molecules. It provides a new approach for the application of 2D ZnO nanosheets in the NO 2 detection field.

Phosphotriesterase (PTE) biodegradation of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) is an efficient and environmentally friendly method. However, the instability and nonreusability of free PTE become the key factors restricting its practical application. In this study, a novel cross-linked magnetic hybrid nanoflower (CLMNF) was prepared. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to further investigate the enhanced catalytic efficiency of the enzymes. The recovery rate of enzyme activity was 298% due to the large specific surface area and metal ion activation effect. More importantly, the immobilization scheme greatly improved the stability and reuse performance of the catalyst and simplified the recovery operation. CLMNFs retained 90.32% relative activity after 5 consecutive cycles and maintained 84.8% relative activity after 30 days at 25 °C. It has a good practical application prospect in the degradation and detection of OPs. Consequently, the immobilized enzyme as a biocatalyst has the characteristics of high efficiency, stability, safety, and easy separation, establishing the key step in a biodetoxification system to control organophosphorus contamination in food and the environment.

As one of the most important ways of human-machine interfaces, the touchpad has excellent input convenience. Input devices for extreme environments require simpler structures and diverse inputs to ensure information inputs. This paper proposed a self-powered flexible input panel with single-channel output for the input recognition of all 26 letters, and a paper mask was implemented to cover the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) board and obtain more complicated electrical signal features. Based on the change of the triboelectric output of the mask, neural network models with different combinations of layers were designed and optimized, and the highest recognition rate of 88.7% for all letters and 100% recognition accuracy for some letters were achieved among the five testers. For letters with low recognition rates, a specific writing specification was further proposed to improve the accuracy of model recognition. These results facilitate the application of the proposed input panel as a flexible wearable device and personal protective equipment for extreme environments including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) scenarios or aerospace.

Phytophthora infestans -induced potato late blight is considered the "cancer of the potato crop." In this work, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with ultrahigh specific surface area (786.28 m 2 /g) were synthesized, which significantly inhibited P. infestans compared with some commercial fungicides. Moreover, MSNs inhibited the growth and reproductive of P. infestans processes, including germination, sporangia infection, and zoospore release. MSNs targeted key biological pathways and induced a stress response in the P. infestans , leading to reactive oxygen species (•O 2- , •OH, and 1 O 2 ) production and structural damage of sporangia. Pot experiments showed that MSNs are translocated from leaves to roots of potato plants, enhancing physiological and biochemical processes, alleviating drought stress, improving resistance to pathogens, and exhibiting soil microbe-friendly. This study systematically reveals the mechanism of MSNs to weaken the reproduction process of P. infestans and confirm the safety and feasibility of MSNs as a green and sustainable fungicide.

The fabrication of microarray chips and the precise dispensing of nanoliter to microliter liquids are fundamental for high-throughput parallel biochemical testing. Conventional microwells, typically featuring a uniform cross section, fill completely in a single operation, complicating the introduction of multiple reagents for stepwise and combinatorial analyses. To overcome this limitation, we developed an innovative valved microwell array. Using ultraviolet (UV)-curing resin three-dimensional (3D) printing, these multilayer configurations can be rapidly fabricated through direct template printing and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) casting. Each microwell incorporates a microvalve structure, truncating fluids within the upper metering well and allowing transfer to the bottom reservoir well under centrifugal force. Sequential operations enable the introduction of multiple reagents, facilitating orthogonal combinations for complex assays. We explored four types of valving methods: DeepWell, Expansion, Bottleneck, and Membrane valve, each offering varying degrees of design complexity, operational efficiency, robustness, and precision. These methods constitute a versatile toolkit to accommodate a broad spectrum of analytical requirements. Our innovative approach redefines microwell architecture, direct manufacturing techniques, and stepwise fluid dispensation in microarrays.

Self-assembly of hydrogels for mechanical support and drug delivery has been extensively researched in traumatic brain injury (TBI), where treatment options are limited. The chief challenge is that most self-assembled hydrogels rely on high molecular carriers or the incorporation of exogenous inactive substances as mediators. It is difficult for these drug delivery systems to achieve clinical translation due to concerns regarding biological safety. Here we report a small molecule hydrogel (GBR-gel) loading small molecule drugs (glycyrrhizic acid, berberine, and rhein) that originated from popular Chinese medicines without additional drug loading or inactive components under physiological conditions. In the long run, GBR-gel possesses several advantages, including ease of preparation, cost-effectiveness, and high biocompatibility. As a proof-of-concept, GBR-gel allows for prompt administration at the site of brain injury to exert potent pharmacodynamic effects. Further single-cell RNA sequencing and experimental validation indicated that GBR-gel can effectively rescue the suppressed glutamatergic synapse pathway after TBI, thereby attenuating inflammatory responses and neural impairments. Our work provides an alternative strategy for timely intervention of TBI.

To overcome the light power fluctuation and frequency mismatch in photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS), we proposed a self-corrected 1 f -only resonant cell-based PAS (1 f -RCPAS) gas analyzer. Based on the theoretical analysis of the 1 f signal, a signal processing algorithm considering laser power-current nonlinearity is proposed. The 1 f -only algorithm is well-tailored for the resonant systems, requiring no time-division multiplexing. The algorithm is further improved to extend the dynamic range. The T-type resonant cell incorporating a graphene sticker is utilized for effectively amplifying the acoustic signals from both the gas and solid to achieve normalization. No optical path alignment is needed. For the low resonance frequency, a digital orthogonal-vector lock-in amplifier is used, further simplifying the system setup. The gas analyzer is used to measure methane (CH 4 ) with the near-infrared absorption peak at 1651 nm. The experiments demonstrated immunity to fiber coupling loss, laser power drift over time, and frequency mismatch caused by property differences between air and standard gases. The R 2 value in the concentration calibration reaches 0.99995, and the minimum detection limit given by the Allan variance reaches 3.5 ppb at an average time of 105 s.

Given the promising prospect of aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) in fluorescence assays, it is interesting and significant to endow AIEgens with molecular recognition capability (such as enzyme-like activity). Here, an AIE nanomaterial with intrinsic enzyme-like activity (named as "AIEzyme") is designed and synthesized via a facile coordination polymerization of Zr 4+ and AIE ligands. AIEzyme possesses enhanced and stable fluorescence in different solvents because of the AIE effect of ligands in the rigid structure of a coordination polymer. On the other hand, the organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH)-mimicking activity of AIEzyme exhibits excellent affinity and specific activity. Interestingly, the OPH-like activity can quench the inherent fluorescence of AIEzyme by the hydrolysate of a typical organophosphorus nerve agent (OPNA), diethyl-4-nitrophenylphosphate. Due to the sensitive activity-induced quenching effect for AIE, the self-reporting fluorescence assay method based on AIEzyme was established, which shows ultrahigh sensitivity, high selectivity, good storage stability, and acceptable reliability for a real sample assay. Moreover, the simultaneous colorimetric method broadens the detection range and the application scenarios. The proposed assay method avoided the interference of O 2 during detection because the OPH-like activity does not derive from the generation of ROS. As a bonus, AIEzyme can also be used for the degradation of OPNAs by OPH-like activity, and the process can be self-monitored by AIE quenching. This work would provide a new opportunity for expanding the application of AIEgens and artificial enzymes by endowing AIEgens with enzyme-like activity.

Advanced n-type organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) play an important part in bioelectronics, facilitating the booming of complementary circuits-based biosensors. This necessitates the utilization of both n-type and p-type organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs) exhibiting a balanced performance. However, the observed subpar electron charge transport ability in most n-type OMIECs presents a significant challenge to the overall functionality of the circuits. In response to this issue, we achieve high-performance OMIECs by leveraging a series of fused electron-deficient monodisperse oligomers with mixed alkyl and glycol chains. Through molecular ordering manipulation by optimizing of their alkyl side chains, we attained a record-breaking OECT electron mobility of 0.62 cm 2 /(V s) and μC* of 63.2 F/(cm V s) for bgTNR-3DT with symmetrical alkyl chains. Notably, the bgTNR-3DT film also exhibits the highest structural ordering, smallest energetic disorder, and the lowest trap density among the series, potentially explaining its ideal charge transport property. Additionally, we demonstrate an organic inverter incorporating bgTNR-3DT OECTs with a gain above 30, showcasing the material's potential for constructing organic circuits. Our findings underscore the indispensable role of alkyl chain optimization in the evolution of prospective high performance OMIECs for constructing advanced organic complementary circuits.

We report on a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform for the detection of five beta-blockers (β-blockers): atenolol, esmolol, labetalol, sotalol, and propranolol. Key to this platform was a two-dimensional substrate formed by self-assembling large Ag@SiO 2 nanoparticles (Ag@SiO 2 NPs) on a silicon wafer. The close arrangement of these large nanoparticles on the surface generated a strong and uniform electromagnetic field, which enhanced SERS signal intensity for the detection of small amounts of the target molecules. The intensities of characteristic peaks of the five β-blocker drugs increased linearly with the increase of their concentrations in the range of 10 -5 to 10 -8 mol/L. The detection limits were 10 -10 mol/L for propranolol, 10 -9 mol/L for atenolol, labetalol, and sotalol, and 10 -8 mol/L for esmolol. Determination of these five β-blocker drugs added to human urine samples, using a portable Raman spectroscopy instrument, showed quantitative recovery (93-101%). Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) of SERS spectral data improved the differentiation among these five β-blockers. This study highlights the potential of the developed SERS platform for rapid, on-site detection of illicit drugs and for antidoping screening.

Novel monophosphine ligands L1 and L2 with a C-P ring were designed and synthesized for the efficient Pd-catalyzed C(sp 2 )-C(sp 3 ) Suzuki coupling. With 0.5 mol % Pd 2 dba 3 and 2 mol % L1 , aryl halides coupled with alkylboronic acids to give the products in up to 99% yield. The aryl thianthrene salt was further applied for late-stage methylation in 97% yield. The active pharmaceutical ingredient lumacaftor was synthesized by aryl-alkyl and aryl-aryl Suzuki coupling reactions using L1 and L2 .