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Malignant tumors pose a serious risk to human health. Ascorbic acid (AA) has potential for tumor therapy; however, the mechanism underlying the ability of AA to selectively kill tumor cells remains unclear. AA can cause redox disequilibrium in tumor cells, resulting in the release of abundant reactive oxygen species, represented by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Therefore, the detection of H2O2 changes can provide insight into the selective killing mechanism of AA against tumor cells. In this work, inspired by the ion‐exchange mechanism in coral formation, a flexible H2O2 sensor (PtNFs/CoPi@CC) is constructed to monitor the dynamics of H2O2 in the cell microenvironment, which exhibits excellent sensitivity and spatiotemporal resolution. Moreover, the findings suggest that dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), the oxidation product of AA, is highly possible the substance that actually acts on tumor cells in AA therapy. Additionally, the intracellular redox disequilibrium and H2O2 release caused by DHA are positively correlated with the abundance and activity of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1). In conclusion, this work has revealed the potential mechanism underlying the ability of AA to selectively kill tumor cells through the construction and use of PtNFs/CoPi@CC. The findings provide new insights into the clinical application of AA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real‐time monitoring of the dynamic charging process and state‐of‐charge inside energy storage systems is crucial for ensuring their sustainable operation. Here, a novel computational multispectral imaging reconstruction (MSIRC) strategy is presented using a smartphone for in situ monitoring of the optical states of aqueous batteries via transparent monitoring window, allowing analysis of ion storage chemistry and real‐time capacity variations. Prussian blue and MnO2 that exhibit significant and subtle color changes during the ion storage process are selected to validate this approach. Time‐domain reconstructed reflectance spectra are capable of selecting the proper wavelength with the largest variation in reconstructed reflectance and precisely monitor the ion storage process of these two materials. This indicates MSIRC's rapidly distinguishing capability between electrodes with unique ion storage mechanisms and great potential in recognizing new materials with unknown mechanisms. Furthermore, the MSIRC technique can perform operando monitoring for several kinds of Zn ion batteries using cathodes with different ion storage mechanisms. These imply the ability of MSIRC to detect the real‐time healthy state of batteries at the device level and judge the inside varying ion storage mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large‐scale deployment of CO2 electroreduction is hampered by deficient carbon utilization in neutral and alkaline electrolytes due to CO2 loss into (bi)carbonates. Switching to acidic media mitigates carbonation, but suffers from low product selectivity because of hydrogen evolution. Here we report a crown ether decoration strategy on a Cu catalyst to enhance carbon utilization and selectivity of CO2 methanation under acidic conditions. Macrocyclic 18‐Crown‐6 is found to enrich potassium cations near the Cu electrode surface, simultaneously enhancing the interfacial electric field to stabilize the *CO intermediate and accelerate water dissociation to boost *CO protonation. Remarkably, the mixture of 18‐Crown‐6 and Cu nanoparticles affords a CH4 Faradaic efficiency of 51.2 % and a single pass carbon efficiency of 43.0 % toward CO2 electroreduction in electrolyte with pH=2. This study provides a facile strategy to promote CH4 selectivity and carbon utilization by modifying Cu catalysts with supramolecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large efficiency improvement, ≈4.5 times, in a solar cell based on earth‐abundant low‐cost SnS absorber with configuration glass/Mo/SnS/CdS/i‐ZnO/AZO/Al is reported in sharp contrast to prior experimental reports in the literature. Efficiency enhancement is attributed to tailored design at the absorber/buffer interface implemented via two‐step design modification vis‐à‐vis experimental benchmark. Design tailoring using simulation comprises substitution of sulfur composition in SnS by Se followed by replacing CdS buffer layer with wide bandgap, nontoxic Zn (O, S). The effect of sulfur composition variation by Se (i.e., SnS1−xSex) indicates an optimal Se mole fraction (x = 0.4) exhibiting maximum efficiency. In addition, optimization of the thickness, carrier density, and bulk defect density of the SnS1−xSex absorber result in an improved design. Replacing CdS buffer layer by ZnO1−ySy in SnS absorber‐based solar cell results in substantial improvement in device parameters; open circuit voltage (VOC) of ≈86% and current density (JSC) of ≈78% due to optimal band alignment at the SnS1−xSex/ZnO1−ySy heterojunction. It occurs when the sulfur mole fraction is 60% in the absorber layer and 70% in the buffer layer causing efficiency to rise to ≈17.87%. An optimal design comprising all the parameters including metal back contact work function, series and shunt resistance deliver an efficiency of ≈19.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the unique properties such as pristine interfaces, ultra‐thin and uniform thickness, 2D nanomaterials have attracted the attention from many researchers. Particularly, rGO and MXene 2D nanomaterials have received intense research interest in the application of gas sensors due to their high electrical conductivity. The coating of these 2D nanomaterials onto plastic, paper or textile substrate formed flexible, stretchable and portable gas sensors as an alternative to the conventional rigid gas sensors. To date, numerous research works on flexible gas sensors using either graphene or MXene have been published. However, the reported data is scattered and varied by multiple factors. In this short review, we revisit the advances in the current application of 2D conductive nanomaterials (mainly rGO and MXene) and their nanocomposites with metal oxides on flexible gas sensors. We focus on recent developments regarding the working mechanism, advantages, disadvantages, and performances (including gas response, selectivity, response time, and recovery time) of each type of gas sensor. Finally, this short review sheds light on future directions and prospects in the field of flexible gas sensors using 2D nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a major source of protein in human diets, pig meat plays a crucial role in ensuring global food security. Key determinants of meat production refer to the chemical and physical compositions or characteristics of muscle fibers, such as the number, hypertrophy potential, fiber‐type conversion and intramuscular fat deposition. However, the growth and formation of muscle fibers comprises a complex process under spatio‐temporal regulation, that is, the intermingled and concomitant proliferation, differentiation, migration and fusion of myoblasts. Recently, with the fast and continuous development of next‐generation sequencing technology, the integration of quantitative trait loci mapping with genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) has greatly helped animal geneticists to discover and explore thousands of functional or causal genetic elements underlying muscle growth and development. However, owing to the underlying complex molecular mechanisms, challenges to in‐depth understanding and utilization remain, and the cost of large‐scale sequencing, which requires integrated analyses of high‐throughput omics data, is high. In this review, we mainly elaborate on research advances in integrative analyses (e.g. GWAS, omics) for identifying functional genes or genomic elements for longissimus dorsi muscle growth and development for different pig breeds, describing several successful transcriptome analyses and functional genomics cases, in an attempt to provide some perspective on the future functional annotation of genetic elements for muscle growth and development in pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The active ingredients in many traditional Chinese medicines are isoprene oligomers with a diterpenoid or triterpenoid structure, which exert cardiovascular effects by signalling through nutrient surplus and nutrient deprivation pathways. Qiliqiangxin (QLQX) is a commercial formulation of 11 different plant ingredients, whose active compounds include astragaloside IV, tanshione IIA, ginsenosides (Rb1, Rg1 and Re) and periplocymarin. In the QUEST trial, QLQX reduced the combined risk of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization (hazard ratio 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.68–0.90), based on 859 events in 3119 patients over a median of 18.2 months; the benefits were seen in patients taking foundational drugs except for sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Numerous experimental studies of QLQX in diverse cardiac injuries have yielded highly consistent findings. In marked abrupt cardiac injury, QLQX mitigated cardiac injury by upregulating nutrient surplus signalling through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/HIF‐1α/NRF2 pathway; the benefits of QLQX were abrogated by suppression of PI3K, Akt, mTOR, HIF‐1α or NRF2. In contrast, in prolonged measured cardiac stress (as in chronic heart failure), QLQX ameliorated oxidative stress, maladaptive hypertrophy, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and proinflammatory and profibrotic pathways, while enhancing mitochondrial health and promoting glucose and fatty acid oxidation and ATP production. These effects are achieved by an action of QLQX to upregulate nutrient deprivation signalling through SIRT1/AMPK/PGC‐1α and enhanced autophagic flux. In particular, QLQX appears to enhance the interaction of PGC‐1α with PPARα, possibly by direct binding to RXRα; silencing of SIRT1, PGC‐1α and RXRα abrogated the favourable effects of QLQX in the heart. Since PGC‐1α/RXRα is also a downstream effector of Akt/mTOR signalling, the actions of QLQX on PGC‐1α/RXRα may explain its favourable effects in both acute and chronic stress. Intriguingly, the individual ingredients in QLQX – astragaloside IV, ginsenosides, and tanshione IIA – share QLQX's effects on PGC‐1α/RXRα/PPARα signalling. QXQL also contains periplocymarin, a cardiac glycoside that inhibits Na+‐K+‐ATPase. Taken collectively, these observations support a conceptual framework for understanding the mechanism of action for QLQX in heart failure. The high likelihood of overlap in the mechanism of action of QLQX and SGLT2 inhibitors requires additional experimental studies and clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alignment of anisotropic nanoparticles in flow has been used for a range of applications such as the preparation of strong fibres and the assembly of in‐plane aligned 1D‐nanoobjects that are used for electronic devices, sensors, energy and biological application. Important is also the flow behaviour of nanoparticles that were designed for nanomedical applications such as drug delivery. It is widely observed that non‐spherical nanoparticles have longer circulation times and a more favourable biodistribution. To be able to understand this behaviour, researchers have turned to analyzing the flow of non‐spherical nanoparticles in the blood stream. In this review, an overview of microfluidic techniques that are used to monitor the alignment of anisotropic nanoparticles in solution will be provided, which includes analysis by small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) and polarized light microscopy. The flow of these nanoparticles in blood is then discussed as the presence of red blood cells causes margination of some nanoparticles. Using fluorescence microscopy, the extent of margination can be identified, which coincides with the ability of nanoparticles to adhere to the cells grown along the wall. While these studies are mainly carried out in vitro using blood, initial investigations in vivo were able to confirm the unusual flow of anisotropic nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are naturally occurring nanoparticles released from all eucaryotic and procaryotic cells. While their role was formerly largely underestimated, EVs are now clearly established as key mediators of intercellular communication. Therefore, these vesicles constitute an attractive topic of study for both basic and applied research with great potential, for example, as a new class of biomarkers, as cell‐free therapeutics or as drug delivery systems. However, the complexity and biological origin of EVs sometimes complicate their identification and therapeutic use. Thus, this rapidly expanding research field requires new methods and tools for the production, enrichment, detection, and therapeutic application of EVs. In this review, we have sought to explain how polymer materials actively contributed to overcome some of the limitations associated to EVs. Indeed, thanks to their infinite diversity of composition and properties, polymers can act through a variety of strategies and at different stages of EVs development. Overall, we would like to emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary research involving polymers to address persistent limitations in the field of EVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of near surface or surface mechanisms on electrochemical performance (lower specific capacitance density) hinders the development of 3D printed micro supercapacitors (MSCs). The reasonable internal structural characteristics of printed electrodes and the appropriate intercalation material can effectively compensate for the effects of surface or near‐surface mechanisms. In this study, a layered structure is constructed inside an electrode using an ink with liquid‐crystal characteristics, and the pore structure and oxidation active sites of the layered electrode are optimized by controlling the amount of Co3O4‐quantum dots (Co3O4 QDs). The Co3O4 QDs are distributed in the pores of the electrode surface, and the insertion of Co3O4 QDs can effectively compensate for the limitations of surface or near‐surface mechanisms, thus effectively improving the pseudocapacitive characteristics of the 3D‐printed MSCs. The 3D printed MSC exhibits a high area capacitance (306.13 mF cm−2) and energy density (34.44 µWh cm−2 at a power density of 0.108 mW cm−2). Therefore, selecting the appropriate materials to construct printable electrode structures and effectively adjusting material ratios for efficient 3D printing are expected to provide feasible solutions for the construction of various high‐energy storage systems such as MSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensor 4‐(9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)‐N,N‐dimethylbenzenamine, CNDMA a green fluorescent ligand developed for selective sensing of picric acid in DMSO/H2O (1 : 9) over different other nitroaromatic compounds. The sensing mechanism involves emission quenching significantly in the presence of picric acid with a color change from green to non‐fluorescent yellow. The sensing process drives through electrostatic and Hydrogen bonding interaction with formation of an Electron Donor‐Acceptor complex. In addition, inner filter effect also play role on the fluorescence quenching. The fluorescence quenching is a mixed‐type of both static and dynamic quenching process. The binding nature was figured out using the 1H NMR and FTIR titration studies. In addition the sensor showed good quenching efficiency and quenching constant with a lowest detection limit (LOD) of 5.09×10−8 M (R=0.99964) at 358 nm. Test strip experiment is demonstrated to understand the practical feasibility of the sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of hydrogen (H2) from water hyacinth (WH) can contribute to reducing both the negative impact of WH on ecosystems and dependence on fossil fuels. In this study, the combination of dark fermentation (DF) and microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) in a single reactor, namely, sDFMEC, was investigated to improve the H2 productivity of WH. Furthermore, the intermittently applied voltage (I-Eapp) scheme and various methane (CH4) inhibition methods, including air exposure, heat treatment, and chloroform (CHCl3) addition, were applied for performance enhancement purposes. The findings indicated that with a sufficient duty time of external energy input (less than 1 hour), the intermittent mode can enhance the performance of WH-fed sDFMEC but does not significantly inhibit CH4 formation. While air exposure and heat treatment damaged both methanogens and exoelectrogens, lowering sDFMEC performance, additional CHCl3 showed the best selective and long-term inhibition on methanogens (over 350 operation hours without further addition). Overall, the combination of the I-Eapp scheme and CHCl3 applied in WH-fed sDFMEC achieved a yield of 670.1 ± 15.2 mL − H 2 / g − VS , around 160% higher than the normal condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene (PE) is a convenient and inexpensive polymer that is widely used in daily life. However, PE products are recalcitrant to degradation in the environment, leading to increasing plastic pollution. This has inspired the search for effective microorganisms and enzymes that can biodegrade PE. In this study, a fungal strain that degrades PE was isolated from soil contaminated with plastic and identified as Trichoderma harzianum. The strain was cultured with PE as the sole carbon source for 30 days, and the weight loss of PE particles was 3.39 ± 0.3%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed holes and oxygenated functional groups on the surface of the degraded PE particles. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) detected products with different carbon atom numbers. In addition, a potential PE degrading enzyme was screened from T. harzianum and identified as laccase. After PE was incubated with the recombinant laccase for 96 h, SEM, FTIR, and GC–MS showed the degradation of PE particles. The results showed that T. harzianum had the ability to degrade PE, which probably was attributed to the laccase produced by this strain. This study contributes promising tools for the degradation of PE enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "two‐step" strategy composed of Pickering emulsion method and supercritical batch foaming technology is successfully conducted to prepare the microcellular polycaprolactone (PCL)/cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)/carbon black (CB) conductive composites. Benefitting from the segregated CNC/CB networks established in the PCL matrix, the obtained microcellular conductive composites can present improved electrical and mechanical performance, and uniform foam structures. The percolation threshold (φc) is estimated as low as ~0.84 wt%, and the minimum tensile strain and strength belonging to the foamed composite with 10 wt% of CB content still maintain 15% and 3.95 MPa, respectively. This study hopes to provide an attempt to prepare microcellular conductive composites with great comprehensive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone defects and injuries are challenging issues in regenerative medicine. Guided bone regeneration (GBR) techniques use biomaterials as scaffolds to support the healing of damaged bone tissue. In this context, there is growing interest in developing new biomaterials with bioabsorbable and bioactive properties to increase GBR effectiveness. In this study, composite corn starch/hydroxyapatite nanoparticle (HAp) biomembranes were synthesized to achieve bioresorbable and bioactive properties compatible with applications in GBR. Starch is a renewable source and presents suitable rheological properties for membrane preparation; in turn, HAp is well known for its osteogenic properties. The biomembranes were prepared by solvent casting (5 wt% aqueous corn starch suspension containing different amounts of HAp (i.e., 0, 2, 5, and 10% of the corn starch weight), to give the membranes HAp_0%, HAp_2%, HAp_5%, and HAp_10%, respectively). The physicochemical and biological properties of the biomembranes were assessed. The concentrations of up to 10% of HAp were homogeneously dispersed in the composite biomembranes. HAp addition increased the biodegradability and the ability of the biomembranes to release Ca2+. The biomembranes containing HAp were more mechanically resistant and less flexible and were not toxic to osteoblasts. Moreover, compared to pure corn starch biomembranes, osteoblasts adhered better to the composite biomembranes. The higher the HAp content, the greater the mineralization promoted by osteoblasts on the composite biomembranes. HAp addition also resulted in composite biomembranes with better fracture healing efficiency in vitro. Therefore, composite corn starch/HAp biomembranes have excellent characteristics, including biodegradability, bioactivity, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility, for the development of new materials aimed at GBR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present a novel method for immobilizing Palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) onto a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) support (Pd NPs@PDMS). To enhance the stability of Pd NPs on the PDMS surface, we functionalized a PDMS thin film with amine groups. The structure and morphology of the resulting Pd NPs@PDMS material were characterized using various techniques, including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. Furthermore, we investigated the catalytic performance of the Pd NPs@PDMS nanocatalyst for the reduction of well‐known environmental pollutants, such as 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP), 2‐nitrophenol (2‐NP), 4‐nitroaniline (4‐NA), Methyl Orange (MO), Methylene Blue (MB), and Congo Red (CR), in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) at room temperature (RT). Additionally, we explored the application of the prepared nanocatalyst in carbon‐carbon (C−C) coupling reactions, specifically Suzuki Miyaura and Sonogashira reactions. The results obtained in this study demonstrated the high efficiency and environmentally friendly nature of Pd NPs@PDMS as a catalyst for both C−C coupling reactions and the degradation of organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite tremendous efforts that have been dedicated to high‐performance electrochemical energy storage devices (EESDs), traditional electrode fabrication processes still face the daunting challenge of limited energy/power density or compromised mechanical compliance. 3D thick electrodes can maximize the utilization of z‐axis space to enhance the energy density of EESDs but still suffer from limitations in terms of poor mechanical stability and sluggish electron/ion transport. Direct ink writing (DIW), an eminent branch of 3D printing technology, has gained popularity in the manufacture of 3D electrodes with intricately designed architectures and rationally regulated porosity, promoting a triple boost in areal mass loading, ion diffusion kinetics, and mechanical flexibility. This focus review highlights the fundamentals of printable inks and typical configurations of 3D‐printed devices. In particular, preparation strategies for high‐performance and multifunctional 3D‐printed EESDs are systemically discussed and classified according to performance evaluation metrics such as high areal energy density, high power density, high volumetric energy density, and mechanical flexibility. Challenges and prospects for the fabrication of high‐performance 3D‐printed EESDs are outlined, aiming to provide valuable insights into this thriving field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing hyper‐lithiated materials can offer a variety of options for designing high‐energy lithium‐ion batteries. As sacrificial cathodes, they compensate for the initial loss of Li+ at the anode. During the first delithiation process, a Fe‐substituted Li6CoO4 (Li5.7Co0.7Fe0.3O4) supplies a large amount of Li+. Especially, the peroxide species formation and oxygen evolution are suppressed even though the charge compensation of oxygen is facilitated in Li5.7Co0.7Fe0.3O4. From a structural viewpoint, the anti‐fluorite structure changes to defective disordered phases during the Li+ extraction, and the proportion of the electrochemical‐inactive phase is more dominant in the case of Li5.7Co0.7Fe0.3O4 at the end of the charge. Consequently, the delithiated LixCo0.7Fe0.3O4 is deactivated in subsequent cycles, reducing unexpected electrochemical reactions after the Li+ provision as sacrificial cathodes. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the reaction mechanism of hyper‐lithiated materials and represent a significant step forward in developing high‐performance sacrificial cathodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite shows great potential in lighting and display owing to its advantages of low cost, high efficiency, and whole visible light tunability. However, how to realize high‐efficiency white perovskite light‐emitting diodes (WPeLEDs) still faces challenges such as the stability of devices and the energy regulation between different emission centers. In recent years, some organic molecules are introduced into the perovskite system because of their role in stabilizing perovskite crystals and enhancing photoelectric properties. In this review, the strategy of perovskite‐organic combination and coupling emission are emphasized, hoping to promote the development of high‐efficiency WPeLEDs. First, the research status of perovskite‐organic coupling WLEDs (POC‐WLEDs) is summarized in detail. Then, the development direction and possibility of POC‐WLEDs are proposed by combining them with some recent reports on POC methods. Finally, an outlook on POC‐WLEDs is proposed. It is a considerable strategy to introduce organic luminescent molecules into perovskite systems as ligands or A‐site organic cations for coupling emission with perovskite. In addition, the technologies of the organic polymer matrix, interfacial exciplex, and organic crosslinking are noteworthy exploration directions. They will promote the development of POC‐WLEDs in improving the stability of perovskite electroluminescence and regulating the energy transfer efficiency between perovskite/organic‐molecule emitting centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipids are a concentrated source of energy with at least twice as much energy as the same amount of carbohydrates and protein. Dietary lipids provide a practical alternative toward increasing the dietary energy density of feeds for high‐performing modern broilers. However, the digestion and absorption of dietary lipids are much more complex than that of the other macronutrients. In addition, young birds are physiologically limited in their capacity to utilise dietary fats and oils effectively. The use of dietary emulsifiers as one of the strategies aimed at improving fat utilisation has been reported to elicit several physiological responses including improved fat digestibility and growth performance. In practical terms, this allows for the incorporation of lipids into lower‐energy diets without compromising broiler performance. Such an approach may potentially lower feed costs and raise revenue gains. The current review revisits lipids and the different roles that they perform in diets and whole‐body metabolism. Additional information on the process of dietary lipid digestion and absorption in poultry; and the physiological limitation brought about by age on lipid utilisation in the avian gastrointestinal tract have been discussed. Subsequently, the physiological responses resulting from the dietary supplementation of exogenous emulsifiers as a strategy for improved lipid utilisation in broiler nutrition are appraised. Suggestions of nascent areas for a better understanding of exogenous emulsifiers have been highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic assessment of arable land use is a fundamental prerequisite to explore its sustainable development path. Agricultural infrastructure integrated with the tillage conditions and soil properties was used to evaluate the state of regional arable land use and its potential for sustainable productivity. We propose a combined weighting method integrating Delphi and entropy weights to consider both decision objectives and indicator attributes. The proposed approach takes into account both expertise and data feature, making the evaluating results more rational and applicable. The impacts of large‐scale land use change and regional urban distribution on soil properties and agricultural infrastructure were also explored to develop more rational and differentiated conservation strategies. Our evaluation showed that 44% and 48% of the soil properties of arable land in Heilongjiang Province, China, are in the excellent or good grades, respectively, meaning that no or only minor remediation measures are needed to achieve optimum conditions. Agricultural infrastructure deserves more attention from the management than soil properties, as only 16% and 24% of area have the same excellent and good grades. The results of the evaluation with a combination of subjective and objective weights are closer to a normal distribution curve than if only expert weights are used, which confirms our hypothesis that the new weighting method is more reasonable. The newly proposed weighted design method and index provide a better understanding of the sustainable productivity of agricultural areas and have a promising application in large‐scale black soil areas worldwide. The future rough growth strategy for resources will result in degradation and posed risks to regional ecological conservation. At the provincial level (up to 130 km), agricultural infrastructure declines and then rises as fields move away from cities, with the inflection point at 55 km. State‐owned farms are mainly responsible for this inflection point, which shift the agents of arable land from small farmers to large capital, with remote arable land receiving more investment. The impact mechanisms of urbanization should be deeper explored to address the challenges for arable land conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in additive manufacturing are leading to the emergence of new printable applications, including sensors for healthcare monitoring and bioengineering scaffolds. Research is driven by designing new printable inks including composites that can be extruded and respond to changes in their surroundings and patterning these materials on the microscale. In modern printing techniques, an emerging modified three‐dimensional (3D) printing method: materials extrusion has been utilized for customizable electronics because of its high compatibility with various inks, low cost, and versatility to different levels of complexity. Material extrusion enables not only the printing of 2D and 3D architecture of the electrode structure but also the bioprinting of structures such as conductive scaffolds. In this review, fundamental insights into rational printable ink formulation including colloidal suspensions, gels, polymer melts, composites, printing criteria, processes, and applications toward printable electronics using composites composed of nanomaterials and biopolymers are fully discussed. New manufacturing insights on how to further improve the resolution and simplify the printing process of responsive materials are discussed, which have not been seen in currently published representative reviews. It is envisioned that this review provides high scientific merits to readers working in wearable devices, biological smart materials, and flexible nanoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bimetallic metal−organic framework (MOF)‐derived multidimensional composites have garnered tremendous attention in electromagnetic wave absorption owing to their remarkable attenuation capacity. And the diversified application scenarios require microwaves absorption materials (MAMs) with robust environmentally adaptive, but efficiently integrating multifunctionality within single MAMs is extremely challenging. Herein, a multifunctional CoC@FeNiG‐F nanocomposite is fabricated by synergistic strategy of in situ growth, C–F···π interaction and microwave irradiation. The MAMs exhibit a strong reflection loss of −75.18 dB with 3.95 GHz effective absorption bandwidth benefited from magnetic–dielectric attenuation, impedance matching, and multiple‐reflection loss. Remarkably, it is first time to obtain the efficient MAMs accompanied with excellent mechanical (80.3 MPa), superamphiphobicity (153° and 151°), anticorrosion (45 d), and flame retardancy (V‐0 rating), which illustrate that the combination of CoC@FeNiG 3D‐skeleton and long‐chain perfluorinated epoxy remarkably improve robust multifunctionality and environmentally adaptive. In particular, the MAMs are assembled into liquid–solid triboelectric nanogenerator, and the output performance (19.7 V, 1.68 μA) and durability (10 000s) are obviously improved benefiting from the trap effect of carbonized MOF. Therefore, this work provides an efficient guideline for designing advanced MAMs with robust environmentally adaptive and sustainable energy harvesting performance in extreme environment application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating traumatic injury often causing permanent loss of function. The challenge of treating SCI stems from the development of a complex pathophysiology at the site of injury, involving multiple biochemical cascades, widespread inflammation, blood supply interruption, inhibitory scar formation, and poor regrowth of injured axons. Clinical options are limited to surgical stabilization and attempt to ameliorate secondary damage following injury. Gene therapy has significant potential to tackle multiple aspects of SCI and improve functional outcomes. The emergence of a diverse array of biomaterial‐based nonviral nanoparticle vectors capable of delivering gene‐modifying nucleic acids offers the potential to improve the efficiency and specificity of genetic cargos for spinal cord regeneration. In this review, the progress that has been made in the field of SCI repair and the different types of nanoparticles and nucleic acid cargoes that have been used are outlined, placing a particular focus on the different cell types and pathways targeted. While many challenges remain, a perspective on the future of the field of nanoparticle‐mediated gene delivery for SCI is provided, including using biomaterial scaffolds engineered specifically for SCI to deliver gene therapeutics and the exciting opportunities that exist in the post‐COVID landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are emerging interactive technologies that realize the "metaverse," leading to a totally new digital interactive experience in daily life in various aspects. In order to provide users with a more immersive experience, displays for AR/VR have rapidly evolved to achieve high resolutions and a large color gamut on small panels. Recently, nanoscale light emitters such as quantum dots (QDs) and metal halide perovskites (MHPs) with high photoluminescence quantum efficiency and color purity levels have garnered much attention as color conversion materials in AR/VR displays. However, the low material stability and the absence of a high‐resolution patterning process that does not impair the optical properties of nanoscale emitters act as obstacles preventing the realization of high‐resolution AR/VR displays. Herein, the state‐of‐the‐art technologies constituting current AR/VR devices are reviewed from an industrial point of view and the recent progress in QD and MHP emitter technologies are discussed, including their basic structural properties, synthesis strategies to enhance the stability, advanced patterning technologies, down‐conversion and light‐emitting diode applications. Based on the review, the authors' perspective on future research directions of nanoscale emitters for next‐generation AR/VR displays is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Difunctionalization of alkenes allows the rapid construction of complex molecules with high selectivity and efficiency in organic synthesis. Herein, we first describe a 1,2‐hydroxycarbonylation of alkenes for the preparation of hydroxyl‐functionalized chroman‐4‐ones through the cooperative action of inorganic oxidants and organic acids. The transformation is initiated by the formation of an acyl radical, and then experiences intramolecular 6‐exo‐trig radical cyclization and hydroxylation process. It is notable that the hydroxyl group in the final products originate from organic acids without the use of any transition‐metal catalysts. To further demonstrate the practicality and mechanism of this method, the gram‐scale reaction and a series of control experiments including gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) and infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy experiments were performed, and the corresponding intermediates were successfully captured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), most with a formula of MX2 (M=Mo, W; X=S, Se, etc.), have emerged as promising channel materials for next‐generation integrated circuits, considering their dangling‐bond‐free surfaces, moderate bandgaps, relatively high carrier mobilities, etc. Wafer‐scale preparation of 2D MX2 films holds fundamental significance for realizing their applications. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is recognized as the most promising method for preparing electronic‐grade 2D MX2 films. This review hereby summarizes the recent progress in CVD syntheses of wafer‐scale 2D MX2 films and their applications in logic operations, data storage, and image capturing/processing related fields. The first part focuses on the wafer‐scale syntheses of 2D MX2 films through designing homogeneous metal precursor supply routes (e.g., precoating soluble precursor, feeding gaseous precursor, designing independent multisource supply or face‐to‐face metal precursor supply routes). The second part highlights the epitaxial growth of monolayer MX2 single crystals on single‐crystal Au substrates and well‐designed sapphire substrates. The third part introduces various functional device/circuit related applications of CVD‐derived 2D MX2 wafers. Finally, challenges and prospects are discussed from the viewpoints of the controlled synthesis, reliable characterization, and damage‐free transfer of 2D MX2, as well as the fabrication and integration of high‐performance devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming and the more frequent occurrence of extremly high temperatures seriously affect crop yields. Heat stress (HS) has become a major environmental factor threatening food security worldwide. Understanding how plants sense and respond to HS is of clear interest to plant scientists and crop breeders. However, it is not trivial to elucidate the underlying signaling cascade, as specific cellular responses (ranging from detrimental to systemic effects) must be disentangled. Plants respond and adapt to high temperatures in many ways. In this review, recent progress in understanding heat signal transduction and the role of histone modifications in regulating the expression of genes involved in HS responses are discussed. The outstanding issues that are crucial for understanding the interactions between plants and HS are also discussed. The study of heat signal transduction mechanisms in plants is essential to facilitate the cultivation of heat‐resistant crop varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is to answer the question: how to realize high energy and high‐power lithium‐ion batteries. Lithium‐metal and graphite anodes with nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cathodes of varying thickness are investigated with finite element modelling. The overpotential analysis is performed to pinpoint the source of losses and the possible ways to decrease them. The electrolyte overpotential, resulting from the salt concentration gradient and leading to saturation and depletion of lithium in parts of the cell is identified as the main factor causing poor specific capacity at high discharge/charge currents. The influence of various parameters, including concentration and transference number of lithium salt in the electrolyte, NMC particle size, electrolyte conductivity and the exchange current density, on the galvanostatic response of modelled battery cells is discussed. The increase of the transference number would improve the performance as this would decrease the electrolyte salt concentration gradient. Lithium depletion effect can be also minimized by elevating the initial electrolyte salt concentration, as well as by increasing the porosity of the cathode, particularly at the cathode/separator boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerium oxide (CeO2) is a material with unique dielectric properties that make it a promising candidate for various applications. High electrical resistance and a wide bandgap of pristine CeO2 limit its applicability in photovoltaics and photo‐electrocatalysis. CeO2 is co‐doped with transition metals (Fe+2/Fe+3 and Cu+2), which reduces its optical bandgap energy and electrical resistance. This study aims to investigate the dielectric relaxation behavior and charge‐carrier dynamics of Fe, Cu–CeO2. The enhanced charge‐carrier dynamics in the Fe, Cu–doped CeO2 compared to pristine CeO2 are reported. Using temperature‐dependent electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (TD‐EIS), the dielectric relaxation and carrier dynamics in pristine CeO2 and Fe, Cu–doped CeO2 in the temperature range 313–473 K along with the modulus spectroscopy are investigated. It is observed that Z′ values reduced with the temperature, thus showing the negative temperature coefficient of resistance in the frequency range 6.28–1.005 × 105 radians s−1. Furthermore, a correlated study of –Z″ and M″ shows the charge‐carrier relaxation behavior changes from ideal Debye type to non‐Debye type with temperature rise in Fe, Cu–doped CeO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the absolute band edge positions in solid materials is crucial for optimising their performance in wide‐ranging applications including photocatalysis and electronic devices. However, obtaining absolute energies is challenging, as seen in CeO2, where experimental measurements show substantial discrepancies in the ionisation potential (IP). Here, we have combined several theoretical approaches, from classical electrostatics to quantum mechanics, to elucidate the bulk and surface contributions to the IP of metal oxides. We have determined a theoretical bulk contribution to the IP of stoichiometric CeO2 of only 5.38 eV, while surface orientation results in intrinsic IP variations ranging from 4.2 eV to 8.2 eV. Highly tuneable IPs were also found in TiO2, ZrO2, and HfO2, in which surface polarisation plays a pivotal role in long‐range energy level shifting. Our analysis, in addition to rationalising the observed range of experimental results, provides a firm basis for future interpretations of experimental and computational studies of oxide band structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the structure, thermal stability, conductive properties, and antimicrobial activity of silver(I) complexes with nitrile ligands were investigated. For the construction of the materials, 2‐cyanopyridine (2‐cpy), 4‐cyanopyridine (4‐cpy), 1,2‐dicyanobenzene (1,2‐dcb), and 1,3‐dicyanobenzene (1,3‐dcb) were used in addition to the silver nitrite and nitrate. Four new compounds were isolated and structurally characterized: one molecular complex [Ag4(1,2‐dcb)4(NO3)4], two 1‐D coordination polymers [Ag(2‐cpy)2(NO2)]∞, [Ag2(1,3‐dcb)2(NO3)2]∞, and one 3‐D coordination polymer [Ag(4‐cpy)(NO2)]∞. The results indicate that the nitrile complexes display good antimicrobial properties against the tested bacterial and fungal strains. The presence of weakly coordinating CN groups increases the release of silver ions into the bacterial and yeast cell environments. Moreover, these materials exhibit unusual electrical properties in thin‐layer devices. On the other hand, the nitrite and nitrate counterions give rise to the low thermal stability of the complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable healthcare systems have captured the interest of researchers because they enable smarter and more personalized healthcare. However, these systems are limited by a separation between biosensors and therapeutic units that results in interrupted treatment and compromised patient recovery. It is therefore imperative to develop wearable closed‐loop medical devices that fully integrate physiological/pathological monitoring, signal feedback detection, diagnostics, and on‐demand therapeutic administration. Such systems require safe, sustainable, and continuously operating power sources, and bioenergy has gained attention in this regard because it can be sourced continuously from the human body without requiring substantial rigid energy storage space. The effective utilization of bioenergy would enable the realization of a self‐driven closed‐loop medical system with treatment‐monitoring feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of global environmental governance, renewable energy (RE) has been the focus of government attention as an effective avenue to enhance environmental sustainability. Hence, this paper utilises the rolling‐window Granger causality test to probe the connection between RE and sustainable development (SD) and further probe whether RE can be a solution to reduce air pollution and boost ecological sustainability. The results reveal that RE has both positive and negative impacts on SD, which means that RE can effectively mitigate the ecological burden and progress toward SD in a certain period. This favourable impact supports the conclusions of the energy‐environment model, which indicates that the increasing share of RE is beneficial to improving environmental benefits. Conversely, the rise in SD drives more sustainable investment in clean energy projects and further contributes to RE generation growth. However, economic and government policy changes will affect sustainable investment in the renewable sector and transmit negative shocks to RE development. In the context of the increasingly severe environmental situation, the government should take some proactive measures favouring RE development and ecological sustainability to mitigate ecological deterioration and boost environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell culture‐conditioned medium (CCM) is a valuable source of extracellular vesicles (EVs) for basic scientific, therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Cell culturing parameters affect the biochemical composition, release and possibly the function of CCM‐derived EVs (CCM‐EV). The CCM‐EV task force of the Rigor and Standardization Subcommittee of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles aims to identify relevant cell culturing parameters, describe their effects based on current knowledge, recommend reporting parameters and identify outstanding questions. While some recommendations are valid for all cell types, cell‐specific recommendations may need to be established for non‐mammalian sources, such as bacteria, yeast and plant cells. Current progress towards these goals is summarized in this perspective paper, along with a checklist to facilitate transparent reporting of cell culturing parameters to improve the reproducibility of CCM‐EV research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symmetrical high‐temperature low‐cycle fatigue tests were performed in this study to examine the influence of temperature on the fatigue failure mechanism of the additively manufactured Inconel 625. According to the fracture analysis, cracks initiate from the crystallographic plane at room temperature. At 600°C, oxidation of carbides leads to crack initiation. The strengthening effect of γ″ precipitation prevents crack propagating within the matrix. At 750°C, the crack becomes transgranular propagating, as a consequence of γ″‐δ transformation. Geometrically necessary dislocations distribution on the fracture supports this result. Furthermore, a modified life prediction formula considering effect of temperature and strain amplitude was established. It was observed that the modified model predicted the fatigue life of the studied materials well in both test conditions. Highlights: Cracks initiate from favorable slip plane at room temperature.Precipitation of γ″ at 650°C prevents dislocation shearing into the matrix.Cyclic plastic deformation accelerates the γ″‐δ transformation at 700°C.Life prediction model considering strain amplitude and temperature shows good accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of additive manufacturing has fueled a revolution in various research fields and industrial applications. Among the myriad of advanced 3D printing techniques, two‐photon polymerization lithography (TPL) uniquely offers a significant advantage in nanoscale print resolution, and has been widely employed in diverse fields, for example, life sciences, materials sciences, mechanics, and microfluidics. More recently, by virtue of the optical transparency of most of the resins used, TPL is finding new applications in optics and photonics, with nanometer to millimeter feature dimensions. It enables the minimization of optical elements and systems, and exploration of light‐matter interactions with new degrees of freedom, never possible before. To review the recent progress in the TPL related optical research, it starts with the fundamentals of TPL and material formulation, then discusses novel fabrication methods, and a wide range of optical applications. These applications notably include diffractive, topological, quantum, and color optics. With a panoramic view of the development, it is concluded with insights and perspectives of the future development of TPL and related potential optical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocrystals, called semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), contain excitons that are three‐dimensionally bound. QDs exhibit a discontinuous electronic energy level structure that is similar to that of atoms and exhibit a distinct quantum confinement effect. As a result, QDs have unique electrical, optical, and physical characteristics that can be used in a variety of optoelectronic device applications, including solar cells. In this review article, the stable and controllable synthesis of QD materials is outlined for upscaling solar cells, including material development and device performance enhancement. It includes a systematic variety of device structures for the fabrication of solar cells, such as QD, hybrid QD/organic, hybrid QD/inorganic, perovskite QD, and hybrid 2D MXene QD/perovskite. The mechanisms for the improvement of stability by QD treatment are examined. For example, the 2D MXene QD and/or Cu1.8S nanocrystal doping significantly increases the long‐term light and ambient stability of perovskite solar cells, resulting from improved perovskite crystallization, reduced hole transport layer (HTL) aggregation and crystallization of films, and reduced UV‐induced photocatalytic activity of the electron transport layer (ETL). For the advancement of QD solar cells and their interaction with various materials, the conclusions from this review are crucial. Finally, future prospects for the development of QD solar cells as well as current challenges are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is crucial for ensuring operational safety in applications like pipelines, tanks, aircraft, ships, and vehicles. Traditional embedded sensors have limitations due to expense and potential structural damage. A novel technology using radio frequency identification devices (RFID) offers wireless transmission of highly sensitive strain measurement data. The system features a thin, flexible sensor based on an inductance‐capacitance (LC) circuit with a parallel‐plate capacitance sensing unit. By incorporating tailored cracks in the capacitor electrodes, the sensor's capacitor electrodes become highly piezoresistive, modifying electromagnetic wave penetration. This unconventional change in capacitance shifts the resonance frequency, resulting in a wireless strain sensor with a gauge factor of 50 for strains under 1%. The frequency shift is passively detected through an external readout system using simple frequency sweeping. This wire‐free, power‐free design allows easy integration into composites without compromising structural integrity. Experimental results demonstrate the cracked wireless strain sensor's ability to detect small strains within composites. This technology offers a cost‐effective, non‐destructive solution for accurate structural health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease characterized by abnormal neurovascularization at the osteochondral junctions, the regulatory mechanisms of which remain poorly understood. In the present study, a murine osteoarthritic model with augmented neurovascularization at the osteochondral junction is used to examine this under‐evaluated facet of degenerative joint dysfunction. Increased extracellular RNA (exRNA) content is identified in neurovascularized osteoarthritic joints. It is found that the amount of exRNA is positively correlated with the extent of neurovascularization and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In vitro binding assay and molecular docking demonstrate that synthetic RNAs bind to VEGF via electrostatic interactions. The RNA‐VEGF complex promotes the migration and function of endothelial progenitor cells and trigeminal ganglion cells. The use of VEGF and VEGFR2 inhibitors significantly inhibits the amplification of the RNA‐VEGF complex. Disruption of the RNA‐VEGF complex by RNase and polyethyleneimine reduces its in vitro activities, as well as prevents excessive neurovascularization and osteochondral deterioration in vivo. The results of the present study suggest that exRNAs may be potential targets for regulating nerve and blood vessel ingrowth under physiological and pathological joint conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing neural electrodes with high stretchability and stable conductivity is a promising method to explore applications of them in biological medicine and electronic skin. However, considering the poor mechanical stretchability of typical conductive materials, maintaining the connection of electrode conductive paths under high stretching is still a challenge. Herein, for the first time, a double‐microcrack coupling strategy for highly stretchable neural electrodes is proposed. Compared with single‐layer stretchable microcrack electrodes, the design utilizes the complement between two gold microcrack films to contribute more conductive paths. It shows that the resistance change (R/R0) of the electrode under 100% strain is about 5.6 times, which is much lower than other electrodes and exhibits a high stretchability of ≈200%. Simultaneously, this design is an encapsulation‐free design which avoids the electrode performance degradation caused by encapsulation. Furthermore, it is found that the adhesion strength between metal electrode and substrate is critical to the stretchability and stability of electrodes, so polydimethylsiloxane0.9‐isophorone diisocyanate elastomer (PDMS0.9‐IPDI), whose adhesion to gold electrode is 4.5 times higher than that of the commercial polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), is synthesized. Finally, the electrophysiological communication between different organisms by electrodes is successfully demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]