In situ click chemistry generation of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors

Co-consumption for plastics upcycling: A perspective

The growing plastics end-of-life crisis threatens ecosystems and human health globally. Microbial plastic degradation and upcycling have emerged as potential solutions to this complex challenge, but their industrial feasibility and limitations thereon have not been fully characterized. In this perspective paper, we review literature describing both plastic degradation and transformation of plastic monomers into value-added products by microbes. We aim to understand the current feasibility of combining these into a single, closed-loop process. Our analysis shows that microbial plastic degradation is currently the rate-limiting step to "closing the loop", with reported rates that are orders of magnitude lower than those of pathways to upcycle plastic degradation products. We further find that neither degradation nor upcycling have been demonstrated at rates sufficiently high to justify industrialization at present. As a potential way to address these limitations, we suggest more investigation into mixotrophic approaches, showing that those which leverage the unique properties of plastic degradation products such as ethylene glycol might improve rates sufficiently to motivate industrial process development.

Strengthening resilience to emerging vector-borne diseases in Europe: lessons learnt from countries facing endemic transmission

Emerging vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are a major public health concern worldwide. Climate change, environmental degradation and globalisation have led to an expansion in the range of many vectors and an erosion of transmission barriers, increasing human exposure to new pathogens and the risk for emerging VBD outbreaks. Europe is potentially underprepared for the increasing threat of VBDs, due to attention and funding being diverted to other public health priorities. Proactive, rather than reactive, prevention and control approaches can greatly reduce the socio-economic toll of VBDs. Endemic countries globally have decades of experience in controlling VBDs, and Europe has much to learn from this knowledge. Here, we advocate for the expansion of transdisciplinary knowledge-sharing partnerships, to co-create proactive measures against VBDs. We present the experiences and expertise of our diverse international team and explore how an array of interventions can be applied and adapted to the European context.

Dynamic hierarchical ligand anisotropy for competing macrophage regulation in vivo

Diverse connective tissues exhibit hierarchical anisotropic structures that intricately regulate homeostasis and tissue functions for dynamic immune response modulation. In this study, remotely manipulable hierarchical nanostructures are tailored to exhibit multi-scale ligand anisotropy. Hierarchical nanostructure construction involves coupling liganded nanoscale isotropic/anisotropic Au (comparable to few integrin molecules-scale) to the surface of microscale isotropic/anisotropic magnetic Fe3O4 (comparable to integrin cluster-scale) and then elastically tethering them to a substrate. Systematic independent tailoring of nanoscale or microscale ligand isotropy versus anisotropy in four different hierarchical nanostructures with constant liganded surface area demonstrates similar levels of integrin molecule bridging and macrophage adhesion on the nanoscale ligand isotropy versus anisotropy. Conversely, the levels of integrin cluster bridging across hierarchical nanostructures and macrophage adhesion are significantly promoted by microscale ligand anisotropy compared with microscale ligand isotropy. Furthermore, microscale ligand anisotropy dominantly activates the host macrophage adhesion and pro-regenerative M2 polarization in vivo over the nanoscale ligand anisotropy, which can be cyclically reversed by substrate-proximate versus substrate-distant magnetic manipulation. This unprecedented scale-specific regulation of cells can be diversified by unlimited tuning of the scale, anisotropy, dimension, shape, and magnetism of hierarchical structures to decipher scale-specific dynamic cell-material interactions to advance immunoengineering strategies.

Taming the Flow with Hyperbranched Polyamides as Melt Modifiers in Polyamide Composites

Transport equipment manufacturers in the automotive and aerospace industries are focused on developing materials that enhance fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. A significant approach is employing lightweight materials like aluminum, magnesium, and polymer-based composites. Polyamide-based composites, particularly nylon 66, as viable alternatives due to their excellent rigidity, chemical resistance, and thermal stability are investigated to address the limitations of traditional thermosetting resins, which are difficult to recycle and have lengthy molding processes that hinder mass production. This research aims to create a polymer additive that lowers melt viscosity during high-temperature processing, thereby improving the processability of these composites. Hyperbranched polyamides (HBPs) with a dendritic structure and numerous terminal groups, which offer lower melt viscosity and greater solubility than linear polymers, are synthesized. By disrupting intermolecular bonds within PA66, these HBPs are expected to enhance miscibility and act as internal slip agents and melt-modifier. Using the A2+B3 approach, novel-hyperbranched polyamides are produced from commercially available monomers, allowing for better industrial applicability. The resulting composites demonstrate improved dispersion, reduced melt viscosity, and high-thermal stability, highlighting their potential as effective melt modifiers for engineering plastics in lightweight composite applications.

Reservoir controllers design though robot-reservoir timescale alignment

Natural behavior emerging in nonlinear dynamical systems enables reservoir computers to control underactuated robots by approximating their inverse dynamics. Unlike other model-free approaches, the reservoir controllers are sample-efficient, meaning a weighted average of the reservoir output can be trained with a limited amount of pre-recorded data. However, developing and testing the reservoir controller relies on repetitive experiments that require researchers' proficiency in both robot and reservoir design. In this paper, we propose a design method for reliable reservoir controllers by synchronizing the timescales of the reservoir dynamics with those observed in the robot. The results demonstrate that our timescale alignment test filters out 99% of ineffective reservoirs. We further applied the selected reservoirs to computational tasks including short-term memory and parity checks, along with control tasks involving robot trajectory tracking. Our findings reveal that a higher computational capability reduces the control failure rate, though it concurrently increases the trajectory-tracking error.

Structural transitions at the bilayer graphene-methanol interface from ab initio molecular dynamics

The precise tailoring of the atomic architecture of 2D carbon-based materials, which results in the modulation of their physical properties, promises to open new pathways for the design of technological devices in electronics, spintronics and energy storage. High-pressure conditions can lead to the synthesis of complex materials starting from multi-layer graphene, often relying on chemical transformations at the interface between carbon and pressure-transmitting media like water or alcohol. Unfortunately, the experimental characterization of molecular-scale mechanisms at interfaces is very challenging. On the other side, the sheer cost of ab initio simulations strongly limited, so far, the computational works in literature to simplified models that, often, do not capture the complexity of the materials and finite-temperature effects. In this work, we provide for the first time an extensive computational study of complex, realistic models of bilayer graphene-methanol interfaces at high pressure and finite temperature. Our simulations allow fundamental insight to be gained on several questions raised from previous experimental works about structural, electronic and reactivity properties of this challenging material. The exploitation of state-of-the-art enhanced sampling techniques combined with topological electronic descriptors allowed characterization of barrier-activated functionalization processes, unveiling a major catalytic effect of carbon defects and pressure towards sp3 formation.

Chiral induction in the crystallization of KIO3 and LiIO3: the role of amino acids in controlling the chirality of inorganic crystals

Chiral induction in crystals has attracted significant attention due to its implications for developing chiral materials and understanding mechanisms of symmetry-breaking enantioselective crystallization of naturally occurring chiral minerals. Despite its potential use in chiral discrimination, this area remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigate chiral induction during crystallization of naturally occurring chiral KIO3 and LiIO3 minerals using arginine and alanine as chiral inducers. The chiral nature of the crystallization and the effect of the chiral inducers were examined using circular dichroism, polarimetry, and low-frequency Raman spectroscopy. The impact of chiral molecules on the rate and final crystal structure was studied by electron microscopy including SEM and TEM. We demonstrate that it is possible to control the chirality with chiral exogenous molecules, mainly amino acids. Understanding chiral induction in crystal growth may open avenues for controlled assembly of chiral materials and development of novel functional materials with unique properties.

Low blood levels of selenium, selenoprotein P and GPx3 are associated with accelerated biological aging: results from the Berlin Aging Study II (BASE-II)

BACKGROUND

Biological age reflects inter-individual differences in biological function and capacity beyond chronological age. DNA methylation age (DNAmA) and its deviation from chronological age, DNAmA acceleration (DNAmAA), which was calculated as residuals of leukocyte cell count adjusted linear regression of DNAmA on chronological age, were used to estimate biological age in this study. Low levels of serum selenium, selenoprotein P (SELENOP), and the selenocysteine-containing glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) are associated with adverse health outcomes and selenium supplementation is discussed as an anti-aging intervention.

METHODS

In this study, we cross-sectionally analyzed 1568 older participants from the observational Berlin Aging Study II (mean age ± SD: 68.8 ± 3.7 years, 51% women). Serum selenium was measured by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectroscopy and SELENOP was determined by sandwich ELISA. GPx3 was assessed as part of a proteomics dataset using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The relationship between selenium biomarkers and epigenetic clock measures was analyzed using linear regression analyses. P values and 95% confidence intervals (not adjusted for multiple testing) are stated for each analysis.

RESULTS

Participants with deficient serum selenium levels (< 90 μg/L) had a higher rate of biological aging (DunedinPACE, β = - 0.02, SE = 0.01, 95% CI - 0.033 to - 0.004, p = 0.010, n = 865). This association remained statistically significant after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking, and first four genetic principal components (β = - 0.02, SE = 0.01, 95% CI - 0.034 to - 0.004, p = 0.012, n = 757). Compared to the highest quartile, participants in the lowest quartile of SELENOP levels showed an accelerated biological aging rate (DunedinPACE, β = - 0.03, SE = 0.01, 95% CI - 0.051 to - 0.008, p = 0.007, n = 740, fully adjusted model). Similarly, after adjustment for confounders, accelerated biological age was found in participants within the lowest GPx3 quartile compared to participants in the fourth quartile (DunedinPACE, β = - 0.04, SE = 0.01, 95% CI - 0.06 to - 0.02, p = 0.001, n = 674 and GrimAge, β = - 0.98, SE = 0.32, 95% CI - 1.6 to - 0.4, p = 0.002, n = 608). Only the association with GPx3 remained statistically significant after multiple testing correction.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that low levels of selenium biomarkers are associated with accelerated biological aging measured through epigenetic clocks. This effect was not substantially changed after adjustment for known confounders.

Synthesis of highly dispersible TiO2 nanoparticles and their application in quantum dot light emitting diodes

Metal oxide nanoparticles are commonly used as electron transport layers (ETLs) in quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLEDs) because of their wide band gap, high electron mobility, and appropriate conduction and valence band positions. Currently, nanoparticulate ZnO is the most successful electron transportation material in high-performance QLEDs. However, the positive aging effect is widely observed for ZnO-based QLEDs, as the instability of amphiprotic ZnO nanoparticles under acidic, basic, and moist conditions limits their applications. In this study, highly dispersible and alcohol-soluble TiO2 nanoparticles are synthesized by using a non-hydrolytic sol-gel method, followed by a dimethyl sulfoxide post-treatment. The use of colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles as an ETL yields optimal QLEDs, with a maximum external quantum efficiency of 12.03%, a highest luminance value of 103 420 cd m-2, and a current efficiency of 18.06 cd A-1. These results reveal that TiO2 nanoparticles hold great potential as ETLs in future QLEDs.

Bulk and surface defect manipulation of the ZnO ETL for all-inorganic CsPbBr3 perovskite solar cells

The electron transport layer (ETL) in traditional CsPbBr3 perovskite solar cells (PSCs) without a hole transport layer (HTL) presents the capability to transport electrons and block hole transport, which radically affects the photovoltaic performance of PSCs. However, ZnO ETL prepared using the classic sol-gel method exhibits obvious drawbacks, such as serious interfacial recombination reactions, inducement of oxygen vacancies (VO) and zinc interstitials (Zni). Herein, we demonstrate that alkali metal chloride (e.g. KCl), serving as the passivating agent for the surface and bulk phase, can promote surface modification and doping in the ZnO ETL, respectively. Experimental results show that the interaction between K+ and Zn2+, and the occupation of VO by Cl-, suppresses the internal defect states of the ZnO films, which enhances the crystal coordination between ZnO and CsPbBr3 and improves the film morphology and the quality of the upper perovskite (PVK) films. Experimental PSCs based on the doping approach achieved the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.22%, which ranks the highest PCE of the (FTO/ITO)/ZnO/CsPbBr3/carbon structure. Moreover, the unpackaged devices of the two experimental PSCs could maintain 97.15% and 74.76% of the original PCE after being exposed for 28 days in the ambient environment, demonstrating the powerful effect of KCl on the regulation of surface and bulk phase defects in the ZnO ETL.

Coherent energy transfer in coupled nonlinear microelectromechanical resonators

Energy decay, describing the leakage of system energy to the environmental bath, is a universal behavior in oscillators. It has been utilized to elucidate energy transfer between vibrational modes of a resonator. In coupled resonators, achieving an ultra-low coupling rate is essential for observing energy interactions between resonators and environmental bath. Here, we observe periodic transient beating phenomenon by analyzing the transient responses of coupled nonlinear resonators with a coupling rate of 9.6 Hz. The energy transfer rate indicating the hybrid energy manipulation is impacted by asymmetry-induced energy localization and enhanced by nonlinearity. Time-resolved eigenstates, characterized by amplitude ratios, are employed as a quantitative tool to uncover the energy transfer and localization in coupled resonators under nonlinear operations. This work opens the possibilities to manipulate energy transfer, to probe energy localization, and to develop high-precision sensors utilizing the energy transfer between coupled nonlinear resonators.

Molecular engineering of backbone rotation in an energy-dissipative hydrogel for combining ultra-high stiffness and toughness

Hydrogels hold great promise for various applications, from soft robotics to electrolytes in energy storage devices. However, their mechanical strength, stiffness, and toughness are inherently limited, and due to their mutually exclusive nature, it is rare to find reports on the enhancement of both stiffness and toughness properties simultaneously. This study introduces a novel strategy termed "Hofmeister effect induced Arrested chain Rotation and energy Dissipation" (HARD), which synergistically combines ultra-high stiffness and toughness in hydrogels. As a representative example, a dual-cross-linked hydrogel demonstrated an increase in stiffness by ∼7000 fold to 326 MPa and toughness by ∼200 fold to 25.5 MJ m-3, compared to the corresponding chemically cross-linked hydrogel. It is further elucidated that the Hofmeister effect immobilizes the polymer segmental motion by restricting backbone rotation, utilizing the hydrophobic pendant methyl groups, while the secondary cross-links function as energy-dissipating elements. The synergistic stress transfer from the primary network to the secondary cross-links effectively integrates these typically opposing mechanical traits. Additionally, we applied the HARD strategy to a double-network hydrogel system, demonstrating its versatility and broad applicability. The dynamic and highly tunable mechanical enhancement makes this strategy a powerful tool for advancing hydrogel design across various applications, as demonstrated by case studies on shape recovery and anti-freezing properties.

Proton-polaron and energy landscape among acceptor doped ACeO3 (A = Ba2+, Sr2+, Ca2+, Mg2+) proton conductors: a first principles approach

The physiochemical impact of the acceptor on the local electronic structure of proton conductors remains obscure due to multifarious issues ranging from proton-polaron interaction to defect scattering events. Meanwhile, structural phase transition and cationic disorder also impart an artificial barrier with local proton traps for long-range diffusion through the lattice. The synergetic response imposes critical challenge to analyse the minimum energy pathway for long-range proton diffusion. As a result, in the present study we investigate the proton landscape and vacancy formation energy (Evac) corresponding to different sized acceptors (M = Gd3+, Y3+, In3+, Sc3+) in ACe1-xMxO3 (A = Ba2+, Sr2+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) (x = 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, 0.5) proton conductors to understand the impact of various electrostatic barriers and afore-mentioned inconsistency on proton diffusion through the lattice via a first principles approach using density functional theory (DFT). We also demonstrate the significance of optimal doping concentration across different acceptor substituents and highlight the influence defect and dopant cluster on polaron formation. As a result, the climbing image nudged elastic band calculations provide a comprehensive overview on proton-polaron interaction and the advent of local proton traps on the trapping and de-trapping effect across different proton and lattice configurations.

Impact of an oxidative RNA lesion on in vitro replication catalyzed by SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

The production of reactive oxygen species in response to RNA virus infection results in the oxidation of viral genomic RNA within infected cells. These oxidative RNA lesions undergo replication catalyzed by the viral replisome. G to U transversion mutations are frequently observed in the SARS-CoV-2 genome and may be linked to the replication process catalyzed by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) past the oxidative RNA lesion 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-riboguanosine (8-oxo-rG). To better understand the mechanism of viral RNA mutagenesis, it is crucial to elucidate the role of RdRp in replicating across oxidative lesions. In this study, we investigated the RNA synthesis catalyzed by the reconstituted SARS-CoV-2 RdRp past a single 8-oxo-rG. The RdRp-mediated primer extension was significantly inhibited by 8-oxo-rG on the template RNA. A steady-state multiple-turnover reaction demonstrated that the turnover rate of RdRp was significantly slow when replication was blocked by 8-oxo-rG, reflecting low bypass efficiency even with prolonged reaction time. Once RdRp was able to bypass 8-oxo-rG, it preferentially incorporated rCMP, with a lesser amount of rAMP opposite 8-oxo-rG. In contrast, RdRp demonstrated greater activity in extending from the mutagenic rA:8-oxo-rG terminus compared to the lower efficiency of extension from the rC:8-oxo-rG pair. Based on steady-state kinetic analyses for the incorporation of rNMPs opposite 8-oxo-rG and chain extension from rC:8-oxo-rG or rA:8-oxo-rG, the relative bypass frequency for rA:8-oxo-rG was found to be seven-fold higher than that for rC:8-oxo-rG. Therefore, the properties of RdRp indicated in this study may contribute to the mechanism of mutagenesis of the SARS-CoV-2 genome.

RNA Editors Sculpt the Transcriptome During Terminal Erythropoiesis

Selective RNA degradation during terminal erythropoiesis results in a globin-rich transcriptome in mature erythrocytes, but the specific RNA decay pathways remain unknown. We found that deficiency of the terminal uridylyl transferase enzyme Zcchc6 and the 3'-5' exoribonuclease Dis3l2 in mouse models led to fetal and perinatal reticulocytosis, an accumulation of RNA-rich precursors of terminal erythroid cells, suggesting their crucial roles in terminal red cell differentiation. Notably, knockout embryos exhibited persistent high-level expression of Hbb-bh1 globin, the ortholog of human fetal γ- globin. Perturbation of the Zcchc6-Dis3l2 pathway in mice engineered to express the human β-globin locus likewise increased γ -globin levels in fetal erythroid cells, suggesting that globin switching entails post-transcriptional mechanisms of mRNA destabilization in addition to transcriptional down-regulation. We cultured human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), performed CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of ZCCHC6 and DIS3L2, and observed accumulation of RNA and elevated γ-globin levels in terminal erythroid cells. Our findings reveal a conserved role for the ZCCHC6/DIS3L2 RNA editors in terminal erythropoiesis and demonstrate a post-transcriptional mechanism for γ- globin gene switching, advancing research into in vitro erythrocyte generation and γ- globin stabilization to ameliorate hemoglobinopathies.

Ordered co-assembly based on chiral phenylalanine derivatives and achiral coumarin derivatives

The self-assembly of small molecules into supramolecular hydrogels is of great significance in mimicking biological systems. In this study, we investigated the formation and structure change of supramolecular hydrogels based on the self-assembly behavior of an achiral coumarin derivative (G1) and a chiral phenylalanine derivative (ALP). It was observed that G1 and ALP can self-assemble at various molar ratios, resulting in distinct nanostructured morphologies. Specifically, at a molar ratio of G1/ALP (4 : 1), the achiral G1 molecules initially bifurcate and diverge, ultimately forming a dendritic microstructure at the G1 termini. When the G1/ALP ratio was adjusted to 2 : 1, a chrysanthemum-like microstructure emerged. UV-light can destroy the self-assembled gel structure of different G1/ALP ratios, changing it from gel to sol. The emergence of these higher-order chiral structures during self-assembly was attributed to hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interactions between the molecules. This research offers valuable insights into the understanding of biological self-assembly processes and the design of artificial biomedical materials.

Highly dispersed antenna-single-atom-reactor on metal-organic frameworks support for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction

We describe the precise nano-assembly of an antenna-single-atom-reactor based on a UiO-66-(SH)2 metal-organic framework support. We lock Ag plasmon nanoparticles in the thio-functionalized pore channels via Ag-S interaction, and anchor Cu single atoms on the oxygen-bridged Zr cluster anodes based on Cu-O bonds, leading to highly dispersed AgCu0.47@UiOS with exceptional catalytic activity for the photocatalytic reduction of CO2.

Separator-free Li-S thin-film battery with spin-coated S/CNT/SP cathode and PEO/PVDF/LTFSI/LLZO composite electrolyte

The advancement of miniaturized energy storage systems is essential for the next generation of electronics. Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) microbatteries are able to offer exceptional theoretical capacity and energy density for microdevices. However, their practical implementation is hindered by challenges in material stability and electrode design. In this study, we introduced a spin-coated sulfur-carbon nanotube-Super P (S/CNT/SP) cathode integrated with a spin-coated polyethylene oxide (PEO)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO) composite electrolyte. The spin-coating technique ensured the formation of uniform electrode and electrolyte thin films, which could work without a separator. The polymer-ceramic composite electrolyte with nanopores effectively suppressed polysulfide dissolution, improved ionic conductivity, and stabilized the electrode-electrolyte interface. Electrochemical evaluation revealed that the quasi-solid-state Li-S battery achieved near-theoretical capacity with enhanced cycling stability, retaining approximately 1000 mA h g-1 (60% of its initial capacity) after 150 cycles across various C-rates. In a pouch-cell configuration, the cell retained 64% of its initial capacity over 60 cycles. These findings underscore the potential of spin-coating and composite quasi-solid electrolytes in enabling high-performance, safe, and compact Li-S battery technologies for next-generation energy storage applications.

Accelerated Discovery of Cell Migration Regulators Using Label-Free Deep Learning-Based Automated Tracking

Cell migration plays a key role in normal developmental programs and in disease, including immune responses, tissue repair, and metastasis. Unlike other cell functions, such as proliferation which can be studied using high-throughput assays, cell migration requires more sophisticated instruments and analysis, which decreases throughput and has led to more limited mechanistic advances in our understanding of cell migration. Current assays either preclude single-cell level analysis, require tedious manual tracking, or use fluorescently labeled cells, which greatly limit the number of extracellular conditions and molecular manipulations that can be studied in a reasonable amount of time. Using the migration of cancer cells as a testbed, we established a workflow that images large numbers of cells in real time, using a 96-well plate format. We developed and validated a machine-vision and deep-learning analysis method, DeepBIT, to automatically detect and track the migration of individual cells from time-lapsed videos without cell labeling and user bias. We demonstrate that our assay can examine cancer cell motility behavior in many conditions, using different small-molecule inhibitors of known and potential regulators of migration, different extracellular conditions such as different contents in extracellular matrix and growth factors, and different CRISPR-mediated knockouts. About 1500 cells per well were tracked in 840 different conditions, for a total of ~1.3M tracked cells, in 70h (5 min per condition). Manual tracking of these cells by a trained user would take ~5.5 years. This demonstration reveals previously unidentified molecular regulators of cancer cell migration and suggests that collagen content can change the sign of how cytoskeletal molecules can regulate cell migration.

Sequential Michael addition, cross-coupling and [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions within the coordination sphere of chiral Ni(ii) Schiff base complexes derived from dehydroamino acids: pathways to the asymmetric synthesis of structurally diverse O-substituted serine and threonine analogs

An approach to the synthesis of a series of novel, enantiomerically pure analogs of β-hydroxy-α-amino acids is reported. The method involves the introduction of the acetylene group into their side chain, followed by further elaboration of the terminal alkyne moiety. The asymmetric synthesis of alkyl- and aryl-substituted derivatives of (S)-O-propargylserine and (S)-allo-O-propargylthreonine (de >90%) was achieved through the nucleophilic Michael addition of the deprotonated congeners of propargyl alcohols to the C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bond of the square-planar Ni(ii) Schiff base complexes of dehydroamino acids (dehydroalanine and dehydroaminobutyric acid) with the chiral auxiliary (S)-BPB. Both (S)-O-propargylserine and (S)-allo-O-propargylthreonine were isolated with high enantiomeric purity (81-98% ee). The terminal alkyne group was further modified: Glaser reaction enabled formation of the dienyne products; Sonogashira cross-coupling gave rise to arylacetylene motifs, whereas [3 + 2]-cycloaddition reactions with 2-nirtophenylazide produced analogs of O-substituted (S)-serine and (S)-allo-threonine containing a 1,2,3-triazole group. All target amino acids were isolated with high enantiomeric purity (ee >98%). The developed approach provides an opportunity to synthesize new O-substituted analogs of β-hydroxy-α-amino acids with a diverse set of substituents in the side chain.

Mechanistic basis for non-exponential bacterial growth

Bacterial populations typically exhibit exponential growth under resource-rich conditions, yet individual cells often deviate from this pattern. Recent work has shown that the elongation rates of Escherichia coli and Caulobacter crescentus increase throughout the cell cycle (super-exponential growth), while Bacillus subtilis displays a mid-cycle minimum (convex growth), and Mycobacterium tuberculosis grows linearly. Here, we develop a single-cell model linking gene expression, proteome allocation, and mass growth to explain these diverse growth trajectories. By calibrating model parameters with experimental data, we show that DNA-proportional mRNA transcription produces near-exponential growth, whereas deviations from this proportionality yield the observed non-exponential growth patterns. Analysis of gene expression perturbations reveals that ribosome expression primarily controls dry mass growth rate, whereas envelope expression more strongly affects cell elongation rate. Fitting our model to single-cell experimental data reproduces convex, super-exponential, and linear modes of growth, demonstrating how envelope and ribosome expression schedules drive cell-cycle-specific behaviors. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for non-exponential single-cell growth and offer insights into how bacterial cells dynamically regulate elongation rates within each generation.

Immune-parenchymal multicellular niches are shared across distinct thyroid autoimmune diseases

Thyroid hormone, produced in the thyroid gland, regulates metabolism, development, and cardiac function. The thyroid is susceptible to autoimmune attack by both cellular and humoral immunity exemplified by Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' Disease (GD), respectively. In HT, immune-mediated destruction impairs thyroid hormone production, while in GD, stimulating autoantibodies promote over-production. Here, we generated a multi-modal atlas of 604,076 human thyroid and blood cells from HT, GD, and control patients. We found that, despite markedly different clinical presentations and distinct antigenic triggers, HT and GD exhibit convergent cellular dynamics resulting in a shared continuum of immune infiltration. Along this continuum, a key feature is a thyrocyte niche containing CD8 + T cells that may segregate pathogenic T cells from regions with preserved thyroid hormone production. These findings of a shared disease continuum characterized by spatially defined immune niches provide a new framework for understanding tissue homeostasis in human autoimmune disease.

Spontaneous generation of angular momentum in chiral active crystals

We study a two-dimensional chiral active crystal composed of underdamped chiral active particles. These particles, characterized by intrinsic handedness and persistence, interact via linear forces derived from harmonic potentials. Chirality plays a pivotal role in shaping the system's behavior: it reduces displacement and velocity fluctuations while inducing cross-spatial correlations among different Cartesian components of velocity. These features distinguish chiral crystals from their non-chiral counterparts, leading to the emergence of net angular momentum, as predicted analytically. This angular momentum, driven by the torque generated by the chiral active force, exhibits a non-monotonic dependence on the degree of chirality. Additionally, it contributes to the entropy production rate, as revealed through a path-integral analysis. We investigate the dynamic properties of the crystal in both Fourier and real space. Chirality induces a non-dispersive peak in the displacement spectrum, which underlies the generation of angular momentum and oscillations in time-dependent autocorrelation functions or mean-square displacement, all of which are analytically predicted.

Tracing the Shared Foundations of Gene Expression and Chromatin Structure

The three-dimensional organization of chromatin into topologically associating domains (TADs) may impact gene regulation by bringing distant genes into contact. However, many questions about TADs' function and their influence on transcription remain unresolved due to technical limitations in defining TAD boundaries and measuring the direct effect that TADs have on gene expression. Here, we develop consensus TAD maps for human and mouse with a novel "bag-of-genes" approach for defining the gene composition within TADs. This approach enables new functional interpretations of TADs by providing a way to capture species-level differences in chromatin organization. We also leverage a generative AI foundation model computed from 33 million transcriptomes to define contextual similarity, an embedding-based metric that is more powerful than co-expression at representing functional gene relationships. Our analytical framework directly leads to testable hypotheses about chromatin organization across cellular states. We find that TADs play an active role in facilitating gene co-regulation, possibly through a mechanism involving transcriptional condensates. We also discover that the TAD-linked enhancement of transcriptional context is strongest in early developmental stages and systematically declines with aging. Investigation of cancer cells show distinct patterns of TAD usage that shift with chemotherapy treatment, suggesting specific roles for TAD-mediated regulation in cellular development and plasticity. Finally, we develop "TAD signatures" to improve statistical analysis of single-cell transcriptomic data sets in predicting cancer cell-line drug response. These findings reshape our understanding of cellular plasticity in development and disease, indicating that chromatin organization acts through probabilistic mechanisms rather than deterministic rules.

Software availability

https://singhlab.net/tadmap.

Giant and Anisotropic Enhancement of Spin-Charge Conversion in Graphene-Based Quantum System

The ever-increasing demand for efficient data storage and processing has fueled the search for novel memory devices. By exploiting the spin-to-charge conversion phenomena, spintronics promises faster and low power solutions alternative to conventional electronics. In this work, a remarkable 34-fold increase in spin-to-charge current conversion is demonstrated when incorporating a 2D epitaxial graphene monolayer between iron and platinum layers by exploring spin-pumping on-chip devices. Furthermore, it is found that the spin conversion is also anisotropic. This enhancement and anisotropy is attributed to the asymmetric Rashba contributions driven by an unbalanced spin accumulation at the differently hybridized top and bottom graphene interfaces, as highlighted by ad-hoc first-principles theory. The improvement in spin-to-charge conversion as well as its anisotropy reveals the importance of interfaces in hybrid 2D-thin film systems, opening up new possibilities for engineering spin conversion in 2D materials, leading to potential advances in memory, logic applications, or unconventional computing.

scHeteroNet: A Heterophily-Aware Graph Neural Network for Accurate Cell Type Annotation and Novel Cell Detection

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has unveiled extensive cellular heterogeneity, yet precise cell type annotation and the identification of novel cell populations remain significant challenges. scHeteroNet, a novel graph neural network framework specifically designed to leverage heterophily in scRNA-seq data, is presented. Unlike traditional methods that assume homophily, scHeteroNet captures complex cell-cell interactions by integrating information from both immediate and extended cellular neighborhoods, resulting in highly accurate cell representations. Additionally, scHeteroNet incorporates an innovative novelty propagation mechanism that robustly detects previously uncharacterized cell types. Comprehensive evaluations across diverse scRNA-seq datasets demonstrate that scHeteroNet consistently outperforms state-of-the-art approaches in both cell type classification and novel cell detection. This heterophily-aware approach enhances the ability to uncover cellular diversity, providing deeper insights into complex biological systems and advancing the field of single-cell analysis.

2D MoS2 for Next-Generation Electronics and Optoelectronics: From Material Properties to Manufacturing Challenges and Future Prospects

The emergence of innovative 2D materials represents a significant evolution in materials science, heralding new opportunities for the advancement of information technologies in the era succeeding Moore's law. These materials span various categories, including semi-metallic, semiconductor, and insulating types, showcasing their versatility. The exceptional characteristics of these atomically thin and planar materials herald a new era in the miniaturization of devices. Integrating 2D materials into field-effect transistors (FETs) with sub-nanometer scale gate architectures demonstrates typical switching behaviors, confirming their applicability in integrated circuits. Concurrently, the development of wafer-level and silicon-compatible manufacturing techniques specifically designed for 2D materials and their devices underscores their significant promise in nanoelectronics and nanophotonics. Particularly, Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) stands out for its direct bandgaps and bound excitons, offering profound implications for advancing nanoelectronics and nanophotonics. This review investigates the intrinsic structure and properties of MoS2, evaluates various methods for wafer-scale synthesis, and examines critical applications in nanoelectronics, such as 2D FETs, photodetectors, and memristors, alongside nanophotonics applications like nano-scale laser sources, exciton-plasmon interaction for advanced sensing applications, and photoluminescence manipulation. Additionally, this review addresses current challenges and future prospects for developing MoS2-based technologies in next-generation nanoelectronic and nanophotonic devices.

Architectural Innovations in Perovskite Solar Cells

Meeting future energy demands with sustainable sources like photovoltaics (PV) presents significant land and logistical challenges, which can be mitigated by improving PV power conversion efficiency (PCE) and decentralized solutions like building-integrated photovoltaics and solar-integrated mobility systems (e.g., Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)). Metal Halide Perovskites Solar Cells (MH-PSCs) provide a transformative, low-cost solution for high-efficiency PV with diverse compositions, exceptional optoelectronic properties, and low-temperature, solution-based processability. Conventionally the MH-PSCs are fabricated in "p-i-n" or "n-i-p" configuration on glass-Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) substrates. While glass-based Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) have achieved remarkable efficiencies, their limited scalability, high areal-weight, and mechanical rigidity greatly limit their usage in wearables electronics, BIPVs, and e-mobility applications. Addressing these challenges requires "targeted architectural innovations" in MH-PSCs, tailored to specific applications, to drive their practical deployment forward. This study reviews four innovative PSC architectures-Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) PSCs, Lateral Configuration (LC) PSCs, Fiber-Shaped (FS) PSCs, and Substrate-Configuration (SC) PSCs-highlighting their design advancements for enhanced efficiency, flexibility, lightweight, and application-specific integration. Importantly, the review discusses the precise engineering required in each layer of these architectural innovations to ensure compatibility, efficient charge transport, durability, and scalability while optimizing performance, while also identifying key challenges and outlining directions for future R&D.

Advanced development of finite element analysis for electrochemical catalytic reactions

The development of robust simulation techniques is crucial for elucidating electrochemical catalytic mechanisms and can even provide guidance for the tailored design and regulation of highly efficient catalysts. Finite element analysis (FEA), as a powerful numerical simulation tool, can effectively simulate and analyze the sophisticated processes involved in electrochemical catalytic reactions and unveil the underlying microscopic mechanisms. By employing FEA, researchers can gain better insights into reaction kinetics and transport processes, optimize electrode design, and predict electrochemical performance under various reaction conditions. Consequently, the application of FEA in electrochemical catalytic reactions has emerged as a critical area of current research and a summary of the advanced development of FEA for electrochemical catalytic reactions is urgently required. This review focuses on exploring the applications of FEA in investigating the crystal structure effect, tip effect, multi-shell effect, porous structure effect, and mass transfer phenomena in electrochemical reactions. Particularly emphasized are its applications in the fields of CO2 reduction, oxygen evolution reaction, and nitrogen reduction reaction. Finally, the challenges encountered by this research field are discussed, along with future directions for further advancement. We aim to provide comprehensive theoretical and practical guidance on FEA methods for researchers in the field of electrochemical catalysis, thereby fostering the advancement and wider implementation of FEA within this domain.

Dietary factors and DNA methylation-based markers of ageing in 5310 middle-aged and older Australian adults

The role of nutrition in healthy ageing is acknowledged but details of optimal dietary composition are still uncertain. We aimed to investigate the cross-sectional associations between dietary exposures, including macronutrient composition, food groups, specific foods, and overall diet quality, with methylation-based markers of ageing. Blood DNA methylation data from 5310 participants (mean age 59 years) in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study were used to calculate five methylation-based measures of ageing: PCGrimAge, PCPhenoAge, DunedinPACE, ZhangAge, TelomereAge. For a range of dietary exposures, we estimated (i) the 'equal-mass substitution effect', which quantifies the effect of adding the component of interest to the diet while keeping overall food mass constant, and (ii) the 'total effect', which quantifies the effect of adding the component of interest to the current diet. For 'equal-mass substitution effects', the strongest association for macronutrients was for fibre intake (e.g. DunedinPACE, per 12 g/day - 0.10 [standard deviations]; 95%CI - 0.15, - 0.05, p < 0.001). Associations were positive for protein (e.g. PCGrimAge, per 33 g/day 0.04; 95%CI 0.01-0.08, p = 0.005). For food groups, the evidence tended to be weak, though sugar-sweetened drinks showed positive associations, as did artificially-sweetened drinks (e.g. DunedinPACE, per 91 g/day 0.06, 95%CI 0.03-0.08, p < 0.001). 'Total effect' estimates were generally very similar. Scores reflecting overall diet quality suggested that healthier diets were associated with lower levels of ageing markers. High intakes of fibre and low intakes of protein and sweetened drinks, as well as overall healthy diets, showed the most consistent associations with lower methylation-based ageing in our study.

Expanding the Potential Window through Synergistic Design and Oriented Heterostructure for Supercapacitor

Metal telluride-based nanomaterials have recently gained attention as promising candidates for enhancing the performance of electrodes in energy storage devices. In this study, Co-Zr-Te@CuO electrode materials engineered through strategic approach are introduced, involving the deposition of a Co-Zr metal-organic framework (MOF) on CuO nanowires, followed by a tellurization. This composite material demonstrates an expanded potential window of 1.2 V, making it potential electrode material for supercapacitor applications. Electrochemical evaluations reveal that the Co-Zr-Te@CuO electrode exhibits 576 C g-1, 1.8 times higher than Co-Zr-MOF@CuO. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm enhancements in conductivity and explains the synergistic effects present within the heterostructure. Hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) device achieves a peak energy density of 69.4 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 1.4 kW kg-1. This evidence of Co-Zr-Te@CuO effective electrode performance demonstrates its potential and robust stability for real-world energy storage applications.

The role of the parahippocampal cortex in memory consolidation for scenes

Classic models propose that forming lasting visual memories involves coordinated interactions between visually selective neocortical structures and the hippocampus during memory consolidation. However, the precise role of visually selective neocortical structures in memory consolidation remains elusive, given their potential contributions spanning from initial perceptual encoding to subsequent memory reactivation. We capitalized on a unique opportunity, involving direct recording from the posterior parahippocampus and its subsequent resection in a neurological patient, to investigate the impact of scene-selective neocortical lesions on visual memory consolidation. First, with intracranial EEG, we confirmed the functional relevance of the patient's resected tissues in representing a specific visual category, in this case, scene images. Subsequently, we identified disruption of memory for scenes relative to faces and objects during the participant's postoperative visit. This finding prompted a comprehensive analysis of visual memory across different visual categories in this participant, as well as an examination of similar functions in other neurological patients with intact parahippocampi and a cohort of online participants. Through these within- and between-participant comparisons, we identified greater time-dependent reduction in visual memory for scene images following the resection of the posterior parahippocampus. Importantly, these changes in memory retention could not be attributed to a general reduction in initial memory encoding following neocortical lesions. Our findings, therefore, suggest that reactivating scene-selective neocortical areas is essential for converting transient visual perceptual experiences into lasting long-term scene memories.

Processable and controllable all-aqueous gels based on high internal phase water-in-water emulsions

Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) have primarily been developed in the form of emulsions to enhance their utilization in green and biocompatible applications. However, numerous challenges have arisen in forming stable and processable water-in-water (W/W) emulsion systems, as well as in fine-tuning the interconnectivity of their internal structure, which can significantly impact their performance. To effectively address these challenges, we elucidate, for the first time, the root cause of the poor stability of W/W emulsions. Leveraging this insight, we successfully stabilize W/W high internal phase emulsions (W/W HIPEs) characterized by an extremely thin continuous phase. This stabilization enables the fine-tuning of interconnectivity between dispersed droplets through photopolymerization of thin continuous phases, resulting in the fabrication of stable and processable all-aqueous gels. This W/W HIPE-based gel fabrication holds promise as a universal technology for a wide range of applications. It facilitates in situ polymerization of the continuous phase of W/W HIPEs, where target molecules are stored in the dispersed phase. Moreover, this method allows easy adjustment of the external release rate or internal transfer rate of target molecules by adjusting the interconnectivity of the internal structures.

Molecular Engineering Enables Bright Carbon Dots for Super-Resolution Fluorescence Imaging and In Vivo Optogenetics

Improving the fluorescence quantum yield (QY) of carbon dots (CDs) is essential for expanding their applications. Understanding the photoluminescence mechanism of CDs can provide valuable insights for QY improvement. In this study, it is demonstrated that polarization facilitated the surface state emission of CDs through a single decay pathway, while hydrogen bonding (HB) is identified as a factor that hindered the surface state emission of CDs through non-radiative decay. Following an in-depth evaluation of these mechanisms, the QY of CDs is markedly enhanced by engineering molecules onto their surfaces. This strategy not only eliminated HB but also promoted polarization-induced charge transfer. Notably, the QY of the yellow-emitting CD is elevated to 98.1%. Capitalizing on their long-term stability, excellent water solubility, two-photon excitation capacity, and non-toxicity, the engineered CDs are successfully applied in dual-color super-resolution fluorescence imaging in living cells, two-photon imaging of zebrafish, and optogenetic regulation in the deep brain of freely-moving animals.

Phonon interference in single-molecule junctions

Wave interference allows unprecedented coherent control of various physical properties and has been widely studied in electronic and photonic materials. However, the interference of phonons, or thermal vibrations, central to understanding coherent thermal transport in all electrically insulating materials, has been poorly characterized due to experimental challenges. Here we report the observation of phonon interference at room temperature in molecular-scale junctions. This is enabled by custom-developed scanning thermal probes with combined high stability and sensitivity, allowing quantification of heat flow through molecular junctions one molecule at a time. Using isomers of oligo(phenylene ethynylene)3 with either para- or meta-connected centre rings, our experiments revealed a remarkable reduction in thermal conductance in meta-conformations. Quantum-mechanically accurate molecular dynamics simulations show that this difference arises from the destructive interference of phonons through the molecular backbone. This work opens opportunities for studying numerous wave-driven material properties of phonons down to the single-molecule level that have remained experimentally inaccessible.

Human plastins are novel cytoskeletal pH sensors with a reduced F-actin bundling capacity at basic pH

Intracellular pH (pHi) is a fundamental component of cell homeostasis. Controlled elevations in pHi precede and accompany cell polarization, cytokinesis, and directional migration. pH dysregulation contributes to cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders. While cytoskeletal rearrangements are crucial for these processes, only a few cytoskeletal proteins, namely Cdc42, cofilin, talin, cortactin, α-actinin, and AIP1 have been documented as pH sensors. Here, we report that actin-bundling proteins plastin 2 (PLS2, aka LCP1) and plastin 3 (PLS3) respond to physiological scale pH fluctuations by a reduced F-actin bundling at alkaline pH. The inhibition of PLS2 actin-bundling activity at elevated pH stems from the reduced affinity of the N-terminal actin-binding domain (ABD1) to actin. In fibroblast cells, elevated cytosolic pH caused the dissociation of ectopically expressed PLS2 from actin structures, whereas acidic conditions promoted its tighter association with focal adhesions and stress fibers. We identified His207 as one of the pH-sensing residues whose mutation to Lys and Tyr reduces pH sensitivity by enhancing and inhibiting the bundling ability, respectively. Our results suggest that weaker actin bundling by plastin isoforms at alkaline pH favors higher dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton. Therefore, like other cytoskeleton pH sensors, plastins promote disassembly and faster dynamics of cytoskeletal components during cytokinesis and cell migration. Since both plastins are implemented in cancer, their pH sensitivity may contribute to the accelerated proliferation and enhanced invasive and metastatic potentials of cancer cells at alkaline pHi.

Super-elastic, hydrophobic composite aerogels for triboelectric nanogenerators

Progress toward the advancement of environmentally friendly energy harvesting devices is critical for eco-environmental protection. There is an urgent need for developing energy harvesting devices from biobased materials. However, it is still a challenge to utilize biobased cellulose nanofiber (CNF) aerogels in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) due to their poor mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, and weak polarization capability. Here, we demonstrate a facile strategy to fabricate a super-elastic, hydrophobic CNF/MXene composite aerogel for TENGs through fluorosilane crosslinking and a directional freeze-dried assembled structure. This aerogel can withstand up to 80% compressive strain, rebound to 95.33% of its original height, and exhibit hydrophobicity (water contact angle = 137.65°). In addition, the induction of MXene and the silane coupling agent endows the aerogel with enhanced electronegativity and charge density. These properties enable the CNF/MXene aerogel to harvest energy with an output voltage of 100 V and a short-circuit charge density of ∼900 nC cm-3, while maintaining stability for 1000 cycles. This aerogel holds great application potential in the field of self-powered sensing and raindrop energy harvesting.

DNA conductance modulation via aptamer binding

The electronic properties of DNA make it an attractive candidate for applications in biosensing and molecular electronics. One approach to utilizing DNA in these fields involves binding molecules, such as aptamers, to control DNA's electrical conductance. By combining molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory with Green's function-based charge transport calculations, we gain insights into aptamer induced structural realignment of DNA base pairs near the binding site. We find that this structural realignment enhances the electronic coupling, creating a conductive path near the highest occupied molecular orbital. This interaction results in a significant modulation of conductance by at least an order of magnitude compared to the dsDNA without the aptamer. We anticipate that our findings will promote the development of DNA-aptamer complexes for use in molecular electronics and biosensing applications.

Liquid crystals as solid-state templates

Liquid crystals (LCs) combine the anisotropy of crystals with the fast molecular dynamics of liquids. Controlling the molecular orientation of LCs is the key enabling feature of liquid crystal displays (LCDs), a technology that has played a pivotal role in ushering in the digital age of today. Here we review controlling molecular organization in LCs over large distances for a different application: the assembly of macroscopically organized solids. The traditional approach of controlling orientational order in organic solids is growing single crystals, a process limited by slow kinetics. In this article, we review an alternate approach: the generation of organized solids through the (i) polymerization, (ii) physical gelation, and (iii) vitrification of small-molecule LCs. The generation of solids through these routes is enabled by innovations in (i) molecular design, (ii) formulation chemistry, and (iii) macroscopic alignment of LCs. Controlling molecular orientation, defects, and deformations in the precursor LC phase enables the assembly of solids with unique properties such as programmable responses to stimuli. We discuss the "organize and solidify" approach for the preparation of materials with LC order for soft robotics, chemical sensing, and lithographic patterning. Finally, we outline future challenges and opportunities in the field of liquid crystalline solids.

Extracellular PHF-tau modulates astrocyte mitochondrial dynamics and mediates neuronal connectivity

BACKGROUND

Tau is an intracellular protein that plays a crucial role in stabilizing microtubules. However, it can aggregate into various forms under pathological conditions and be secreted into the brain parenchyma. While the consequences of tau aggregation within neurons have been extensively studied, the effects of extracellular paired helical filaments of tau (ePHF-tau) on neurons and astrocytes are still poorly understood.

METHODS

This study examined the effect of human ePHF-tau (2N4R) on primary cultures of rat neuroglia, focusing on changes in neurites or synapses by microscopy and analysis of synaptosome and mitochondria proteomic profiles after treatment. In addition, we monitored the behavior of mitochondria in neurons and astrocytes separately over three days using high-speed imaging and high-throughput acquisition and analysis.

RESULTS

ePHF-tau was efficiently cleared by astrocytes within two days in a 3D neuron-astrocyte co-culture model. Treatment with ePHF-tau led to a rapid increase in synaptic vesicle production and active zones, suggesting a potential excitotoxic response. Proteomic analyses of synaptosomal and mitochondrial fractions revealed distinct mitochondrial stress adaptations: astrocytes exhibited elevated mitochondrial biogenesis and turnover, whereas neuronal mitochondria displayed only minor oxidative modifications. In a mixed culture model, overexpression of tau 1N4R specifically in astrocytes triggered a marked increase in mitochondrial biogenesis, coinciding with enhanced synaptic vesicle formation in dendrites. Similarly, astrocyte-specific overexpression of PGC1alpha produced a comparable pattern of synaptic vesicle production, indicating that astrocytic mitochondrial adaptation to ePHF-tau may significantly influence synaptic function.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that the accumulation of PHF-tau within astrocytes drives changes in mitochondrial biogenesis, which may influence synaptic regulation. This astrocyte-mediated adaptation to tauopathy highlights the potential role of astrocytes in modulating synaptic dynamics in response to tau stress, opening avenues for therapeutic strategies aimed at astrocytic mechanisms in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.

Indoor light energy harvesting perovskite solar cells: from device physics to AI-driven strategies

The rapid advancement of indoor perovskite solar cells (IPSCs) stems from the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions and the proliferation of internet of things (IoT) devices. With tunable bandgaps and superior light absorption properties, perovskites efficiently harvest energy from artificial light sources like LEDs and fluorescent lamps, positioning IPSCs as a promising solution for powering smart homes, sensor networks, and portable electronics. In this review, we introduce recent research that highlights advancements in material optimization under low-light conditions, such as tailoring wide-bandgap perovskites to match indoor light spectra and minimizing defects to enhance stability. Notably, our review explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), which are transforming IPSC development by facilitating efficient material discovery, optimizing device architectures, and uncovering degradation mechanisms. These advancements are driving the realization of sustainable indoor energy solutions for interconnected smart technologies.

Chemoselective Characterization of New Extracellular Matrix Deposition in Bioengineered Tumor Tissues

The extracellular matrix (ECM), present in nearly all tissues, provides extensive support to resident cells through structural, biomechanical, and biochemical means, and in return the ECM undergoes constant remodeling from interacting cells to adapt to the evolving tissue states. Bioengineered 3D tissues, commonly known as cell-ECM composites, are robust model systems to recapitulate and investigate native pathophysiology. Key to this engineered morphogenesis process are the intricate cell-ECM interactions reflected by how cells respond to and thereby modulate their surrounding microenvironments through their ongoing ECM secretome. However, investigating ECM-regulated new ECM production has been challenging due to the proteomic background from the pre-existing biomaterial ECM. To address this hindrance, here we present a chemoselective strategy to label, enrich, and characterize newly synthesized ECM (newsECM) proteins produced by resident cells, allowing distinction from the pre-existing ECM background. Applying our analytical pipeline to bioengineered tumor tissues, either built upon decellularized ECM (dECM-tumors) or as ECM-free tumor spheroids (tumoroids), we observed distinct ECM synthesis patterns that were linked to their extracellular environments. Tumor cells responded to the dECM presence with elevated ECM remodeling activities, mediated by augmented digestion of pre-existing ECM coupled with upregulated synthesis of tumor-associated ECM. Our findings highlight the sensitivity of newsECM profiling to capture remodeling events that are otherwise under-represented by bulk proteomics and underscore the significance of dECM support for enabling native-like tumor cell behaviors. We anticipate the described newsECM analytical pipeline to be broadly applicable to other tissue-engineered systems to probe ECM-regulated ECM synthesis and remodeling, both fundamental aspects of cell-ECM crosstalk in engineered tissue morphogenesis.

Advances in the synthesis of Fe-based bimetallic electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction

Achieving carbon neutrality and slowing down global warming requires research into  the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), which produces useful compounds. Utilizing renewable energy to meet carbon-neutral energy goals produces single-carbon (C1) and multi-carbon (C2+) goods. Efficient and selective electrocatalysts are essential to advancing this revolutionary technology; bimetallic Fe-based catalysts work better than their monometallic counterparts because multiple metals work synergistically to reduce CO2 levels. A thorough summary of recent developments in the synthesis of Fe-X bimetallic catalysts will be provided in this review, with an emphasis on key performance indicators like stability, faradaic efficiency, potential, current density, and primary product production. In addition, this analysis will look at representative instances of Fe bimetallic catalysts that are well-known for their selectivity in generating particular alcohols and hydrocarbons, clarifying the mechanics behind CO2 reduction, pointing out existing difficulties, and examining the potential of electrosynthesis processes in the future.

Novel Parkinson's Disease Genetic Risk Factors Within and Across European Populations

Introduction

We conducted a meta-analysis of Parkinson's disease genome-wide association study summary statistics, stratified by source (clinically-recruited case-control cohorts versus population biobanks) and by general European versus European isolate ancestries. This study included 63,555 cases, 17,700 proxy cases with a family history of Parkinson's disease, and 1,746,386 controls, making it the largest investigation of Parkinson's disease genetic risk to date.

Methods

Meta-analyses were performed using standard fixed and random effect models for the European sub-populations, the case-control studies, and the population biobanks separately. Finally, all of the European ancestries for all study types as well as proxy cases were combined in our final cross-European meta-analysis. We estimated heritable risk across ancestry groups, investigated tissue and cell-type enrichment, and prioritized risk genes using public data to facilitate functional follow-up efforts.

Results

The final combined cross-European meta-analysis identified 134 risk loci (59 novel), with a total of 157 independent signals, significantly expanding our understanding of Parkinson's disease risk. Multi-omic data integration revealed that expression of the nominated risk genes are highly enriched in brain tissues, particularly in neuronal and astrocyte cell types. Additionally, we prioritized 33 high-confidence genes across these 134 loci for future follow-up studies.

Conclusions

By integrating diverse European populations and leveraging harmonized data from the Global Parkinson's Genetics Program (GP2), we reveal new insight into the genetic architecture of Parkinson's disease. We identified a total of 134 risk loci, expanding the number of known loci associated with PD by approximately 24%. We also provided an initial layer of biological context to these results through follow-up analyses in an effort to facilitate follow-up studies and precision medicine efforts with the goal of advancing Parkinson's disease research.

First-principles study of Ga2Ge2S3Se3 monolayer: a promising photocatalyst for water splitting

Recently, the quaternary Janus monolayers with the formula A2B2X3Y3 have been shown to be promising candidates for optoelectronic applications, especially in the photocatalytic water splitting reaction. Therefore, first-principles calculations were employed to investigate the photocatalytic properties of Ga2Ge2X3Y3 (X and Y represent S, Se or Te atoms) monolayers. The Ga2Ge2S3Se3 and Ga2Ge2Se3Te3 monolayers exhibit dynamic and thermal stability, supported by high cohesive energies (3.78-4.20 eV) and positive phonon dispersion. With a moderate Young's modulus (50.02-65.31 N m-1) and high Poisson's ratio (0.39-0.41), these monolayers offer a balance of stiffness and flexibility, making them suitable for flexible electronic applications. Especially, the difference in work function of 0.27 eV induces an intrinsic electric field in the Ga2Ge2S3Se3 monolayer, making the electronic structure of this material be suitable for the photocatalytic water splitting process. With light irradiation, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) happened simultaneously, producing electrons and H+ protons for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) to happen at a low potential barrier. Moreover, the Ga2Ge2S3Se3 monolayer has a high absorption rate α(ω) of 105-106 cm-1 and a high electron mobility of 430.82-461.50 cm2 V-1 s-1. These characteristics result in a good solar-to-hydrogen of the Ga2Ge2S3Se3 monolayer (14.80%) which is promising for use in photon-driven water splitting.

Recovery of Lipid Biomarkers in Hot Spring Digitate Silica Sinter as Analogs for Potential Biosignatures on Mars: Results from Laboratory and Flight-Like Experiments

Digitate siliceous sinter deposits are common in geothermal environments. They form via evaporation and precipitation of cooling silica-rich fluids and passive microbial templating. Increasing interest in these "finger-like" microstromatolitic sinters is related to their morphological and mineralogical resemblance to opaline silica-rich rocks discovered by NASA's Spirit rover in the Columbia Hills, Gusev crater, Mars. However, these terrestrial deposits remain understudied, specifically in terms of biosignature content and long-term preservation potential. In this study, six digitate, opaline (opal-A) sinter deposits were collected from five Taupō Volcanic Zonegeothermal fields, and their lipid biosignatures were investigated as Mars analogs. Samples were collected in pools and discharge channels of varied temperatures, pH, and water chemistries, with spicular to nodular morphologies. Results revealed the presence of biomarkers from unsilicified and silicified communities populating the hot spring sinters, including lipids from terrigenous plants, algae, and bacteria. Although DNA sequencing suggests that the composition and diversity of microbial communities are correlated with temperature, pH, and water chemistry of the springs, these environmental parameters did not seem to affect lipid recovery. However, the morphology of the sinters did play a role in lipid yield, which was higher in the finest, needle-like spicules in comparison to the broad, knobby sinters. The capability of current Mars flight mission techniques such as pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to detect lipid biomarkers was also evaluated from a subset of samples in a pilot study under flight conditions. The early preservation of lipids in the studied sinters and their detection using flight-like techniques suggest that martian siliceous deposits are strong candidates for the search for biosignatures on Mars.

SOX4 facilitates brown fat development and maintenance through EBF2-mediated thermogenic gene program in mice

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is critical for non-shivering thermogenesis making it a promising therapeutic strategy to combat obesity and metabolic disease. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying brown fat formation remain incompletely understood. Here, we found SOX4 is required for BAT development and thermogenic program. Depletion of SOX4 in BAT progenitors (Sox4-MKO) or brown adipocytes (Sox4-BKO) resulted in whitened BAT and hypothermia upon acute cold exposure. The reduced thermogenic capacity of Sox4-MKO mice increases their susceptibility to diet-induced obesity. Conversely, overexpression of SOX4 in BAT enhances thermogenesis counteracting diet-induced obesity. Mechanistically, SOX4 activates the transcription of EBF2, which determines brown fat fate. Moreover, phosphorylation of SOX4 at S235 by PKA facilitates its nuclear translocation and EBF2 transcription. Further, SOX4 cooperates with EBF2 to activate transcriptional programs governing thermogenic gene expression. These results demonstrate that SOX4 serves as an upstream regulator of EBF2, providing valuable insights into BAT development and thermogenic function maintenance.

Synchronization of wave-propelled capillary spinners

When a millimetric body is placed atop a vibrating liquid bath, the relative motion between the object and the interface generates outward-propagating waves with an associated momentum flux. Prior work has shown that isolated chiral objects, referred to as spinners, can thus rotate steadily in response to their self-generated wavefield. Here, we consider the case of two cochiral spinners held at a fixed spacing from one another but otherwise free to interact hydrodynamically through their shared fluid substrate. Two identical spinners are able to synchronize their rotation, with their equilibrium phase difference sensitive to their spacing and initial conditions, and even cease to rotate when the coupling becomes sufficiently strong. Nonidentical spinners can also find synchrony provided their intrinsic differences are not too disparate. A hydrodynamic wave model of the spinner interaction is proposed, recovering all salient features of the experiment. In all cases, the spatially periodic nature of the capillary wave coupling is directly reflected in the emergent equilibrium behaviors.

Human-Centric, Three Dimensional Micro Light-Emitting Diodes for Cosmetic and Medical Phototherapy

Phototherapy based on micro light-emitting diodes (µLEDs) has gained enormous attention in the medical field as a patient-friendly therapeutic method due to its advantages of minimal invasiveness, fewer side effects, and versatile device form factors with high stability in biological environment. Effective cosmetic and medical phototherapy depends on deep light penetration, precise irradiation, and simultaneous multi-site stimulation, facilitated by three-dimensional (3D) optoelectronics specifically designed for complex human matters, defined here as 3D µLEDs. This perspective article aims to present the functionalities and strategies of 3D µLEDs for human-centric phototherapy. This study investigates the effectiveness of phototherapy enabled by three key functionalities such as shape morphing, self-adaptation, and multilayered spatiotemporal mapping of 3D µLEDs. Finally, this article provides future insights of 3D µLEDs for human-centric phototherapy applications.

Unveiling the redox mechanism of cerium doped in nickel for alkaline hydrogen evolution: a theoretical exploration

Electrochemical water electrolysis under alkaline conditions holds immense potential in clean energy production and storage. Density functional theory (DFT) computations were employed to investigate the in situ redox behavior of Ce doped in Ni under alkaline conditions. The Pourbaix diagrams for Ce atomic surface reactions at pH = 12 showed stability of H6Ce@Ni below -0.48 V, persistence of Ce(OH)5@Ni from -0.48 V to -0.34 V, and endurance of CeO4@Ni beyond -0.34 V. On analyzing the Bader charges, the oxidation states of central Ce atoms were found to be +3, +4, and +4, respectively. In these stable phases, oxidized Ce and partially oxidized Ni around Ce cooperated in boosting the hydrogen evolution reaction. Additionally, the interaction between Ce's f-orbitals and H's s-orbitals assisted in reducing the energy barrier for water splitting. Ce(OH)5@Ni emerged as the most plausible active phase following the Volmer-Heyrovsky mechanism, with a reaction energy barrier not larger than 0.43 eV. Thus, this investigation sheds light on the complex interplay between stable redox phases and catalytic processes, contributing to the development of efficient and sustainable hydrogen production.