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DNA is commonly employed as a substrate for the building of artificial logic networks due to its excellent biocompatibility and programmability. Till now, DNA logic circuits are rapidly evolving to accomplish advanced operations. Nonetheless, nowadays, most DNA circuits remain to be disposable and lack of field programmability and thereby limits their practicability. Herein, inspired by the Configurable Logic Block (CLB), the CLB‐based erasable field‐programmable DNA circuit that uses clip strands as its operation‐controlling signals is presented. It enables users to realize diverse functions with limited hardware. CLB‐based basic logic gates (OR and AND) are first constructed and demonstrated their erasability and field programmability. Furthermore, by adding the appropriate operation‐controlling strands, multiple rounds of programming are achieved among five different logic operations on a two‐layer circuit. Subsequently, a circuit is successfully built to implement two fundamental binary calculators: half‐adder and half‐subtractor, proving that the design can imitate silicon‐based binary circuits. Finally, a comprehensive CLB‐based circuit is built that enables multiple rounds of switch among seven different logic operations including half‐adding and half‐subtracting. Overall, the CLB‐based erasable field‐programmable circuit immensely enhances their practicability. It is believed that design can be widely used in DNA logic networks due to its efficiency and convenience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between proteinuria levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) development and all-cause mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients remains controversial. In this investigation, we conducted a retrospective analysis involving 1138 patients who were registered in the CKD-Research of Outcomes in Treatment and Epidemiology (ROUTE) study. The primary outcome of this study was the composite of cardiovascular events or all-cause death. Cox proportional hazards regression, smooth curve fitting, piecewise linear regression, and subgroup analyses were used. The mean age of the included individuals was 67.3 ± 13.6 years old. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for UPCR in middle and high groups, compared to the low group, were 1.93 (95% CI: 1.28–2.91) and 4.12 (95% CI: 2.87–5.92), respectively, after multivariable adjustment. Further adjustments maintained significant associations; HRs for middle and high groups were 1.71 (95% CI: 1.12–2.61) and 3.07 (95% CI: 2.08–4.54). A nonlinear UPCR-primary outcome relationship was observed, with an inflection point at 3.93 g/gCr. Among non-dialyzed patients with stage G2-G5 CKD, a nonlinear association between UPCR and the primary outcome was observed. A higher UPCR (when UPCR < 3.93 g/gCr) was an independent predictor of the primary outcome. Importantly, our study predates SGLT2 inhibitor use, showcasing outcomes achievable without these medications. Future research considerations will involve factors like SGLT-2 inhibitor utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoagents for chemodynamic therapy (CDT) hold a promising future in the field of antimicrobials, especially copper peroxide (CuO2) (CP) nanomaterials which have garnered significant attention due to their ability to self-supply H2O2. Nevertheless, the poor stability of CuO2 remains a critical challenge which restricts its practical application in the antibacterial field. In this study, an advanced nano-antimicrobial system HA-CP@Fe3O4 with enzyme-responsive properties is developed by coating hyaluronic acid (HA) on CuO2-loaded iron tetraoxide nanoparticles. The coating of HA not only stabilizes the CuO2 nanomaterials but also provides responsiveness towards the enzyme hyaluronidase, which is typically secreted by some bacteria. The outer layer of HA in HA-CP@Fe3O4 undergoes decomposition in the presence of hyaluronidase-secreting bacteria, resulting in the release of CuO2@Fe3O4. The released CuO2@Fe3O4 then self-supplies H2O2 and generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the infected microenvironment through Fenton and Russell effects, to ultimately achieve effective and precise antimicrobial activity. Simultaneously, the magnetic property provided by Fe3O4 allows the substance to be directed towards the infection site. Both in vitro and in vivo tests demonstrated that HA-CP@Fe3O4 exhibited excellent antimicrobial capabilities at low concentration (30 μg mL−1), exceptional biocompatibility and the ability to accelerate wound healing. The findings of this work offer a new and promising approach for targeted and precise CDT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial heterogeneity of carrier dynamics in polycrystalline metal halide perovskite (MHP) thin films has a strong influence on photovoltaic device performance; however, the underlying cause is not yet clearly understood. Here, the sub‐micrometer scale mapping of charge carrier dynamics in CH3NH3PbI3 thin films using time‐resolved nonlinear optical microscopy, specifically transient absorption microscopy (TAM) with sub‐picosecond (ps) and time‐resolved photoluminescence (PL) microscopy with nanosecond temporal resolution is reported. To study the influence of physical morphology on charge carrier dynamics, MHP thin films having granular‐ and fibrous structures are investigated. On both types of films, spatial regions with short‐lived transient gain signals (fast nonradiative relaxation within ≈1 ps) typically show slower charge recombination via radiative relaxation, which is attributed to the presence of additional energy states near the band edge. In addition, fibrous films show longer PL lifetimes. Interestingly, the functional contrast shown in TAM images exhibits fundamental differences from the structural contrast shown in scanning electron microscopy images, implying that the variation of trap density in the bulk contributes to the observed spatial heterogeneity in carrier dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoagents for chemodynamic therapy (CDT) hold a promising future in the field of antimicrobials, especially copper peroxide (CuO 2 ) (CP) nanomaterials which have garnered significant attention due to their ability to self-supply H 2 O 2 . Nevertheless, the poor stability of CuO 2 remains a critical challenge which restricts its practical application in the antibacterial field. In this study, an advanced nano-antimicrobial system HA-CP@Fe 3 O 4 with enzyme-responsive properties is developed by coating hyaluronic acid (HA) on CuO 2 -loaded iron tetraoxide nanoparticles. The coating of HA not only stabilizes the CuO 2 nanomaterials but also provides responsiveness towards the enzyme hyaluronidase, which is typically secreted by some bacteria. The outer layer of HA in HA-CP@Fe 3 O 4 undergoes decomposition in the presence of hyaluronidase-secreting bacteria, resulting in the release of CuO 2 @Fe 3 O 4 . The released CuO 2 @Fe 3 O 4 then self-supplies H 2 O 2 and generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the infected microenvironment through Fenton and Russell effects, to ultimately achieve effective and precise antimicrobial activity. Simultaneously, the magnetic property provided by Fe 3 O 4 allows the substance to be directed towards the infection site. Both in vitro and in vivo tests demonstrated that HA-CP@Fe 3 O 4 exhibited excellent antimicrobial capabilities at low concentration (30 μg mL -1 ), exceptional biocompatibility and the ability to accelerate wound healing. The findings of this work offer a new and promising approach for targeted and precise CDT.

Quaternary chalcogenide materials have long been a source of semiconductors for optoelectronic applications. Recent studies on I 2 -II-IV-X 4 (I = Ag, Cu, Li; II = Ba, Sr, Eu, Pb; IV = Si, Ge, Sn; X = S, Se) materials have shown particular versatility and promise among these compounds. These semiconductors take advantage of a diverse bonding scheme and chemical differences among cations to target a degree of antisite defect resistance. Within this set of compounds, the materials containing both Ag and Sr have not been experimentally studied and leave a gap in the full understanding of the family. Here, we have synthesized powders and single crystals of two Ag- and Sr-containing compounds, Ag 2 SrSiS 4 and Ag 2 SrGeS 4 , each found to form in the tetragonal I 4̅2 m structure of Ag 2 BaGeS 4 . During the synthesis targeting the title compounds, two additional materials, Ag 2 Sr 3 Si 2 S 8 and Ag 2 Sr 3 Ge 2 S 8 , have also been identified. These cubic compounds represent impurity phases during the synthesis of Ag 2 SrSiS 4 and Ag 2 SrGeS 4 . We show through hybrid density functional theory calculations that Ag 2 SrSiS 4 and Ag 2 SrGeS 4 have highly dispersive band-edge states and indirect band gaps, experimentally measured as 2.08(1) and 1.73(2) eV, respectively. Second-harmonic generation measurements on Ag 2 SrSiS 4 and Ag 2 SrGeS 4 powders show frequency-doubling capabilities in the near-infrared range.