2D Ionic Liquid-Like State of Charged Rare-Earth Clusters on a Metal Surface

Rare-earth complexes are vital for separation chemistry and useful in many advanced applications including emission and energy upconversion. Here, 2D rare-earth clusters having net charges are formed on a metal surface, enabling investigations of their structural and electronic properties on a one-cluster-at-a-time basis using scanning tunneling microscopy. While these ionic complexes are highly mobile on the surface at ≈100 K, their mobility is greatly reduced at 5 K and reveals stable and self-limiting clusters. In each cluster, a pair of charged rare-earth complexes formed by electrostatic and dispersive interactions act as a basic unit, and the clusters are chiral. Unlike other non-ionic molecular clusters formed on the surfaces, these rare-earth clusters show mechanical stability. Moreover, their high mobility on the surface suggests that they are in a 2D liquid-like state.

The first two chromosome-scale genome assemblies of American hazelnut enable comparative genomic analysis of the genus Corylus

The native, perennial shrub American hazelnut (Corylus americana) is cultivated in the Midwestern United States for its significant ecological benefits, as well as its high-value nut crop. Implementation of modern breeding methods and quantitative genetic analyses of C. americana requires high-quality reference genomes, a resource that is currently lacking. We therefore developed the first chromosome-scale assemblies for this species using the accessions 'Rush' and 'Winkler'. Genomes were assembled using HiFi PacBio reads and Arima Hi-C data, and Oxford Nanopore reads and a high-density genetic map were used to perform error correction. N50 scores are 31.9 Mb and 35.3 Mb, with 90.2% and 97.1% of the total genome assembled into the 11 pseudomolecules, for 'Rush' and 'Winkler', respectively. Gene prediction was performed using custom RNAseq libraries and protein homology data. 'Rush' has a BUSCO score of 99.0 for its assembly and 99.0 for its annotation, while 'Winkler' had corresponding scores of 96.9 and 96.5, indicating high-quality assemblies. These two independent assemblies enable unbiased assessment of structural variation within C. americana, as well as patterns of syntenic relationships across the Corylus genus. Furthermore, we identified high-density SNP marker sets from genotyping-by-sequencing data using 1343 C. americana, C. avellana and C. americana × C. avellana hybrids, in order to assess population structure in natural and breeding populations. Finally, the transcriptomes of these assemblies, as well as several other recently published Corylus genomes, were utilized to perform phylogenetic analysis of sporophytic self-incompatibility (SSI) in hazelnut, providing evidence of unique molecular pathways governing self-incompatibility in Corylus.

Ultrasensitive Room Temperature Infrared Photodetection Using a Narrow Bandgap Conjugated Polymer

Photodetectors operating across the short-, mid-, and long-wave infrared (SWIR-LWIR, λ = 1-14 µm) underpin modern science, technology, and society in profound ways. Narrow bandgap semiconductors that form the basis for these devices require complex manufacturing, high costs, cooling, and lack compatibility with silicon electronics, attributes that remain prohibitive for their widespread usage and the development of emerging technologies. Here, a photoconductive detector, fabricated using a solution-processed narrow bandgap conjugated polymer is demonstrated that enables charge carrier generation in the infrared and ultrasensitive SWIR-LWIR photodetection at room temperature. Devices demonstrate an ultralow electronic noise that enables outstanding performance from a simple, monolithic device enabling a high detectivity (D*, the figure of merit for detector sensitivity) >2.44 × 109 Jones (cm Hz1/2  W-1 ) using the ultralow flux of a blackbody that mirrors the background emission of objects. These attributes, ease of fabrication, low dark current characteristics, and highly sensitive operation overcome major limitations inherent within modern narrow-bandgap semiconductors, demonstrate practical utility, and suggest that uncooled detectivities superior to many inorganic devices can be achieved at high operating temperatures.

Structural characterization of an intrinsically disordered protein complex using integrated small-angle neutron scattering and computing

Characterizing structural ensembles of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) of proteins is essential for studying structure-function relationships. Due to the different neutron scattering lengths of hydrogen and deuterium, selective labeling and contrast matching in small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) becomes an effective tool to study dynamic structures of disordered systems. However, experimental timescales typically capture measurements averaged over multiple conformations, leaving complex SANS data for disentanglement. We hereby demonstrate an integrated method to elucidate the structural ensemble of a complex formed by two IDRs. We use data from both full contrast and contrast matching with residue-specific deuterium labeling SANS experiments, microsecond all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with four molecular mechanics force fields, and an autoencoder-based deep learning (DL) algorithm. From our combined approach, we show that selective deuteration provides additional information that helps characterize structural ensembles. We find that among the four force fields, a99SB-disp and CHARMM36m show the strongest agreement with SANS and NMR experiments. In addition, our DL algorithm not only complements conventional structural analysis methods but also successfully differentiates NMR and MD structures which are indistinguishable on the free energy surface. Lastly, we present an ensemble that describes experimental SANS and NMR data better than MD ensembles generated by one single force field and reveal three clusters of distinct conformations. Our results demonstrate a new integrated approach for characterizing structural ensembles of IDPs.

New Chemical Dopant and Counterion Mechanism for Organic Electrochemical Transistors and Organic Mixed Ionic-Electronic Conductors

Organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs) have varied performance requirements across a diverse application space. Chemically doping the OMIEC can be a simple, low-cost approach for adapting performance metrics. However, complex challenges, such as identifying new dopant materials and elucidating design rules, inhibit its realization. Here, these challenges are approached by introducing a new n-dopant, tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBA-OH), and identifying a new design consideration underpinning its success. TBA-OH behaves as both a chemical n-dopant and morphology additive in donor acceptor co-polymer naphthodithiophene diimide-based polymer, which serves as an electron transporting material in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). The combined effects enhance OECT transconductance, charge carrier mobility, and volumetric capacitance, representative of the key metrics underpinning all OMIEC applications. Additionally, when the TBA+ counterion adopts an "edge-on" location relative to the polymer backbone, Coulombic interaction between the counterion and polaron is reduced, and polaron delocalization increases. This is the first time such mechanisms are identified in doped-OECTs and doped-OMIECs. The work herein therefore takes the first steps toward developing the design guidelines needed to realize chemical doping as a generic strategy for tailoring performance metrics in OECTs and OMIECs.

Validation of a metabolite-GWAS network for Populus trichocarpa family 1 UDP-glycosyltransferases

Metabolite genome-wide association studies (mGWASs) are increasingly used to discover the genetic basis of target phenotypes in plants such as Populus trichocarpa, a biofuel feedstock and model woody plant species. Despite their growing importance in plant genetics and metabolomics, few mGWASs are experimentally validated. Here, we present a functional genomics workflow for validating mGWAS-predicted enzyme-substrate relationships. We focus on uridine diphosphate-glycosyltransferases (UGTs), a large family of enzymes that catalyze sugar transfer to a variety of plant secondary metabolites involved in defense, signaling, and lignification. Glycosylation influences physiological roles, localization within cells and tissues, and metabolic fates of these metabolites. UGTs have substantially expanded in P. trichocarpa, presenting a challenge for large-scale characterization. Using a high-throughput assay, we produced substrate acceptance profiles for 40 previously uncharacterized candidate enzymes. Assays confirmed 10 of 13 leaf mGWAS associations, and a focused metabolite screen demonstrated varying levels of substrate specificity among UGTs. A substrate binding model case study of UGT-23 rationalized observed enzyme activities and mGWAS associations, including glycosylation of trichocarpinene to produce trichocarpin, a major higher-order salicylate in P. trichocarpa. We identified UGTs putatively involved in lignan, flavonoid, salicylate, and phytohormone metabolism, with potential implications for cell wall biosynthesis, nitrogen uptake, and biotic and abiotic stress response that determine sustainable biomass crop production. Our results provide new support for in silico analyses and evidence-based guidance for in vivo functional characterization.

Cell wall response of field grown Populus to Septoria infection

Due to its ability to spread quickly and result in tree mortality, Sphaerulina musiva (Septoria) is one of the most severe diseases impacting Populus. Previous studies have identified that Septoria infection induces differential expression of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis genes. However, more extensive characterization of changes to lignin in response to Septoria infection is lacking. To study the changes of lignin due to Septoria infection, four field grown, naturally variant Populus trichocarpa exhibiting visible signs of Septoria infection were sampled at health, infected, and reaction zone regions for cell wall characterization. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and acid hydrolysis were applied to identify changes to the cell wall, and especially lignin. FTIR and subsequent principal component analysis revealed that infected and reaction zone regions were similar and could be distinguished from the non-infected (healthy) region. NMR results indicated the general trend that infected region had a higher syringyl:guaiacyl ratio and lower p-hydroxybenzoate content than the healthy regions from the same genotype. Finally, Klason lignin content in the infected and/or reaction zone regions was shown to be higher than healthy region, which is consistent with previous observations of periderm development and metabolite profiling. These results provide insights on the response of Populus wood characteristics to Septoria infection, especially between healthy and infected region within the same genotype.

Field performance of switchgrass plants engineered for reduced recalcitrance

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a promising perennial bioenergy crop that achieves high yields with relatively low nutrient and energy inputs. Modification of cell wall composition for reduced recalcitrance can lower the costs of deconstructing biomass to fermentable sugars and other intermediates. We have engineered overexpression of OsAT10, encoding a rice BAHD acyltransferase and QsuB, encoding dehydroshikimate dehydratase from Corynebacterium glutamicum, to enhance saccharification efficiency in switchgrass. These engineering strategies demonstrated low lignin content, low ferulic acid esters, and increased saccharification yield during greenhouse studies in switchgrass and other plant species. In this work, transgenic switchgrass plants overexpressing either OsAT10 or QsuB were tested in the field in Davis, California, USA for three growing seasons. No significant differences in the content of lignin and cell wall-bound p-coumaric acid or ferulic acid were detected in transgenic OsAT10 lines compared with the untransformed Alamo control variety. However, the transgenic overexpressing QsuB lines had increased biomass yield and slightly increased biomass saccharification properties compared to the control plants. This work demonstrates good performance of engineered plants in the field, and also shows that the cell wall changes in the greenhouse were not replicated in the field, emphasizing the need to validate engineered plants under relevant field conditions.

Examining polymer-protein biophysical interactions with small-angle x-ray scattering and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation

Polymer-protein hybrids can be deployed to improve protein solubility and stability in denaturing environments. While previous work used robotics and active machine learning to inform new designs, further biophysical information is required to ascertain structure-function behavior. Here, we show the value of tandem small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCMD) experiments to reveal detailed polymer-protein interactions with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a test case. Of particular interest was the process of polymer-protein complex formation under thermal stress whereby SAXS monitors formation in solution while QCMD follows these dynamics at an interface. The radius of gyration (Rg ) of the protein as measured by SAXS does not change significantly in the presence of polymer under denaturing conditions, but thickness and dissipation changes were observed in QCMD data. SAXS data with and without thermal stress were utilized to create bead models of the potential complexes and denatured enzyme, and each model fit provided insight into the degree of interactions. Additionally, QCMD data demonstrated that HRP deforms by spreading upon surface adsorption at low concentration as shown by longer adsorption times and smaller frequency shifts. In contrast, thermally stressed and highly inactive HRP had faster adsorption kinetics. The combination of SAXS and QCMD serves as a framework for biophysical characterization of interactions between proteins and polymers which could be useful in designing polymer-protein hybrids.

Vegetation clumping modulates global photosynthesis through adjusting canopy light environment

The spatial dispersion of photoelements within a vegetation canopy, quantified by the clumping index (CI), directly regulates the within-canopy light environment and photosynthesis rate, but is not commonly implemented in terrestrial biosphere models to estimate the ecosystem carbon cycle. A few global CI products have been developed recently with remote sensing measurements, making it possible to examine the global impacts of CI. This study deployed CI in the radiative transfer scheme of the Community Land Model version 5 (CLM5) and used the revised CLM5 to quantitatively evaluate the extent to which CI can affect canopy absorbed radiation and gross primary production (GPP), and for the first time, considering the uncertainty and seasonal variation of CI with multiple remote sensing products. Compared to the results without considering the CI impact, the revised CLM5 estimated that sunlit canopy absorbed up to 9%-15% and 23%-34% less direct and diffuse radiation, respectively, while shaded canopy absorbed 3%-18% more diffuse radiation across different biome types. The CI impacts on canopy light conditions included changes in canopy light absorption, and sunlit-shaded leaf area fraction related to nitrogen distribution and thus the maximum rate of Rubisco carboxylase activity (V_cmax ), which together decreased photosynthesis in sunlit canopy by 5.9-7.2 PgC year^-1 while enhanced photosynthesis by 6.9-8.2 PgC year^-1 in shaded canopy. With higher light use efficiency of shaded leaves, shaded canopy increased photosynthesis compensated and exceeded the lost photosynthesis in sunlit canopy, resulting in 1.0 ± 0.12 PgC year^-1 net increase in GPP. The uncertainty of GPP due to the different input CI datasets was much larger than that caused by CI seasonal variations, and was up to 50% of the magnitude of GPP interannual variations in the tropical regions. This study highlights the necessity of considering the impacts of CI and its uncertainty in terrestrial biosphere models.

Elucidating the Synergic Effect in Nanoscale MoS2 /TiO2 Heterointerface for Na-Ion Storage

Interface engineering in electrode materials is an attractive strategy for enhancing charge storage, enabling fast kinetics, and improving cycling stability for energy storage systems. Nevertheless, the performance improvement is usually ambiguously ascribed to the "synergetic effect", the fundamental understanding toward the effect of the interface at molecular level in composite materials remains elusive. In this work, a well-defined nanoscale MoS₂ /TiO₂ interface is rationally designed by immobilizing TiO₂ nanocrystals on MoS₂ nanosheets. The role of heterostructure interface between TiO₂ and MoS₂ by operando synchrotron X-ray diffraction (sXRD), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, and density functional theory calculations is investigated. It is found that the existence of a hetero-interfacial electric field can promote charge transfer kinetics. Based on operando sXRD, it is revealed that the heterostructure follows a solid-solution reaction mechanism with small volume changes during cycling. As such, the electrode demonstrates ultrafast Na⁺ ions storage of 300 mAh g^-1 at 10 A g^-1 and excellent reversible capacity of 540 mAh g^-1 at 0.2 A g^-1 . This work provides significant insights into understanding of heterostructure interface at molecular level, which suggests new strategies for creating unconventional nanocomposite electrode materials for energy storage systems.

Salinity and hydraulic retention time induce membrane phospholipid acyl chain remodeling in Halanaerobium congolense WG10 and mixed cultures from hydraulically fractured shale wells

Bacteria remodel their plasma membrane lipidome to maintain key biophysical attributes in response to ecological disturbances. For Halanaerobium and other anaerobic halotolerant taxa that persist in hydraulically fractured deep subsurface shale reservoirs, salinity, and hydraulic retention time (HRT) are important perturbants of cell membrane structure, yet their effects remain poorly understood. Membrane-linked activities underlie in situ microbial growth kinetics and physiologies which drive biogeochemical reactions in engineered subsurface systems. Hence, we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to investigate the effects of salinity and HRT on the phospholipid fatty acid composition of H. congolense WG10 and mixed enrichment cultures from hydraulically fractured shale wells. We also coupled acyl chain remodeling to membrane mechanics by measuring bilayer elasticity using atomic force microscopy (AFM). For these experiments, cultures were grown in a chemostat vessel operated in continuous flow mode under strict anoxia and constant stirring. Our findings show that salinity and HRT induce significant changes in membrane fatty acid chemistry of H. congolense WG10 in distinct and complementary ways. Notably, under nonoptimal salt concentrations (7% and 20% NaCl), H. congolense WG10 elevates the portion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in its membrane, and this results in an apparent increase in fluidity (homeoviscous adaptation principle) and thickness. Double bond index (DBI) and mean chain length (MCL) were used as proxies for membrane fluidity and thickness, respectively. These results provide new insight into our understanding of how environmental and engineered factors might disrupt the physical and biogeochemical equilibria of fractured shale by inducing physiologically relevant changes in the membrane fatty acid chemistry of persistent microbial taxa. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACTSalinity significantly alters membrane bilayer fluidity and thickness in Halanaerobium congolense WG10.

Dynamic acylome reveals metabolite driven modifications in Syntrophomonas wolfei

Syntrophomonas wolfei is an anaerobic syntrophic microbe that degrades short-chain fatty acids to acetate, hydrogen, and/or formate. This thermodynamically unfavorable process proceeds through a series of reactive acyl-Coenzyme A species (RACS). In other prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, the production of intrinsically reactive metabolites correlates with acyl-lysine modifications, which have been shown to play a significant role in metabolic processes. Analogous studies with syntrophic bacteria, however, are relatively unexplored and we hypothesized that highly abundant acylations could exist in S. wolfei proteins, corresponding to the RACS derived from degrading fatty acids. Here, by mass spectrometry-based proteomics (LC–MS/MS), we characterize and compare acylome profiles of two S. wolfei subspecies grown on different carbon substrates. Because modified S. wolfei proteins are sufficiently abundant to analyze post-translational modifications (PTMs) without antibody enrichment, we could identify types of acylations comprehensively, observing six types (acetyl-, butyryl-, 3-hydroxybutyryl-, crotonyl-, valeryl-, and hexanyl-lysine), two of which have not been reported in any system previously. All of the acyl-PTMs identified correspond directly to RACS in fatty acid degradation pathways. A total of 369 sites of modification were identified on 237 proteins. Structural studies and in vitro acylation assays of a heavily modified enzyme, acetyl-CoA transferase, provided insight on the potential impact of these acyl-protein modifications. The extensive changes in acylation-type, abundance, and modification sites with carbon substrate suggest that protein acylation by RACS may be an important regulator of syntrophy.

Exploring Physics of Ferroelectric Domain Walls in Real Time: Deep Learning Enabled Scanning Probe Microscopy

The functionality of ferroelastic domain walls in ferroelectric materials is explored in real-time via the in situ implementation of computer vision algorithms in scanning probe microscopy (SPM) experiment. The robust deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) is implemented based on a deep residual learning framework (Res) and holistically nested edge detection (Hed), and ensembled to minimize the out-of-distribution drift effects. The DCNN is implemented for real-time operations on SPM, converting the data stream into the semantically segmented image of domain walls and the corresponding uncertainty. Further the pre-defined experimental workflows perform piezoresponse spectroscopy measurement on thus discovered domain walls, and alternating high- and low-polarization dynamic (out-of-plane) ferroelastic domain walls in a PbTiO₃ (PTO) thin film and high polarization dynamic (out-of-plane) at short ferroelastic walls (compared with long ferroelastic walls) in a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin film is reported. This work establishes the framework for real-time DCNN analysis of data streams in scanning probe and other microscopies and highlights the role of out-of-distribution effects and strategies to ameliorate them in real time analytics.

Induced Ferromagnetism in Epitaxial Uranium Dioxide Thin Films

Actinide materials have various applications that range from nuclear energy to quantum computing. Most current efforts have focused on bulk actinide materials. Tuning functional properties by using strain engineering in epitaxial thin films is largely lacking. Using uranium dioxide (UO₂ ) as a model system, in this work, the authors explore strain engineering in actinide epitaxial thin films and investigate the origin of induced ferromagnetism in an antiferromagnet UO₂ . It is found that UO_{2+ x} thin films are hypostoichiometric (x<0) with in-plane tensile strain, while they are hyperstoichiometric (x>0) with in-plane compressive strain. Different from strain engineering in non-actinide oxide thin films, the epitaxial strain in UO₂ is accommodated by point defects such as vacancies and interstitials due to the low formation energy. Both epitaxial strain and strain relaxation induced point defects such as oxygen/uranium vacancies and oxygen/uranium interstitials can distort magnetic structure and result in magnetic moments. This work reveals the correlation among strain, point defects and ferromagnetism in strain engineered UO_{2+ x} thin films and the results offer new opportunities to understand the influence of coupled order parameters on the emergent properties of many other actinide thin films.

Ultra-Narrow Phosphorene Nanoribbons Produced by Facile Electrochemical Process

Phosphorene nanoribbons (PNRs) have inspired strong research interests to explore their exciting properties that are associated with the unique two-dimensional (2D) structure of phosphorene as well as the additional quantum confinement of the nanoribbon morphology, providing new materials strategy for electronic and optoelectronic applications. Despite several important properties of PNRs, the production of these structures with narrow widths is still a great challenge. Here, a facile and straightforward approach to synthesize PNRs via an electrochemical process that utilize the anisotropic Na+ diffusion barrier in black phosphorus (BP) along the [001] zigzag direction against the [100] armchair direction, is reported. The produced PNRs display widths of good uniformity (10.3 ± 3.8 nm) observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and the suppressed B2g vibrational mode from Raman spectroscopy results. More interestingly, when used in field-effect transistors, synthesized bundles exhibit the n-type behavior, which is dramatically different from bulk BP flakes which are p-type. This work provides insights into a new synthesis approach of PNRs with confined widths, paving the way toward the development of phosphorene and other highly anisotropic nanoribbon materials for high-quality electronic applications.

The Climatic Impact-Driver Framework for Assessment of Risk-Relevant Climate Information

The climate science and applications communities need a broad and demand-driven concept to assess physical climate conditions that are relevant for impacts on human and natural systems. Here, we augment the description of the "climatic impact-driver" (CID) approach adopted in the Working Group I (WGI) contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report. CIDs are broadly defined as "physical climate system conditions (e.g., means, events, and extremes) that affect an element of society or ecosystems. Depending on system tolerance, CIDs and their changes can be detrimental, beneficial, neutral, or a mixture of each across interacting system elements and regions." We give background information on the IPCC Report process that led to the development of the 7 CID types (heat and cold, wet and dry, wind, snow and ice, coastal, open ocean, and other) and 33 distinct CID categories, each of which may be evaluated using a variety of CID indices. This inventory of CIDs was co-developed with WGII to provide a useful collaboration point between physical climate scientists and impacts/risk experts to assess the specific climatic phenomena driving sectoral responses and identify relevant CID indices within each sector. The CID Framework ensures that a comprehensive set of climatic conditions informs adaptation planning and risk management and may also help prioritize improvements in modeling sectoral dynamics that depend on climatic conditions. CIDs contribute to climate services by increasing coherence and neutrality when identifying and communicating relevant findings from physical climate research to risk assessment and planning activities.

Cold acclimation threshold induction temperatures of switchgrass ecotypes grown under a long and short photoperiod

Plants can cold acclimate to enhance their freezing tolerance by sensing declining temperature and photoperiod cues. However, the factors influencing genotypic variation in the induction of cold acclimation are poorly understood among perennial grasses. We hypothesized that the more northern upland switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) ecotype develops a higher degree of freezing tolerance by initiating cold acclimation at higher temperatures as compared with the coastal and southern lowland ecotypes. First, we determined the optimal method for assessing freezing tolerance and the length of exposure to 8/4°C required to induce the maximum level of freezing tolerance in the most northern upland and most southern lowland genotypes. We characterized the maximum freezing tolerance of eight uplands, three coastal and five lowland genotypes grown for 21 days at 8/4°C and a 10 or 16 h photoperiod. Next, we identified the temperature required to induce cold acclimation by exposing the 16 genotypes for 7 days at 20-6°C constant temperatures under a 10 or 16 h photoperiod. Cold acclimation initiated at temperatures 5 and 7°C higher in upland than in coastal and lowland genotypes. Among upland genotypes the shorter photoperiod induced cold acclimation at a 1°C higher temperature. Genotypes originating from a more northern latitude initiate cold acclimation at higher temperatures and develop higher maximum freezing tolerances. An earlier response to declining temperatures may provide the upland ecotype with additional time to prepare for winter and provide an advantage when plants are subjected to the rapid changes in fall temperature associated with injurious frosts.

High Velocity, Low-Voltage Collective In-Plane Switching in (100) BaTiO3 Thin Films

Ferroelectrics are being increasingly called upon for electronic devices in extreme environments. Device performance and energy efficiency is highly correlated to clock frequency, operational voltage, and resistive loss. To increase performance it is common to engineer ferroelectric domain structure with highly-correlated electrical and elastic coupling that elicit fast and efficient collective switching. Designing domain structures with advantageous properties is difficult because the mechanisms involved in collective switching are poorly understood and difficult to investigate. Collective switching is a hierarchical process where the nano- and mesoscale responses control the macroscopic properties. Using chemical solution synthesis, epitaxially nearly-relaxed (100) BaTiO₃ films are synthesized. Thermal strain induces a strongly-correlated domain structure with alternating domains of polarization along the [010] and [001] in-plane axes and 90° domain walls along the [011] or [01 1 ¯ $\bar{1}$ ] directions. Simultaneous capacitance-voltage measurements and band-excitation piezoresponse force microscopy revealed strong collective switching behavior. Using a deep convolutional autoencoder, hierarchical switching is automatically tracked and the switching pathway is identified. The collective switching velocities are calculated to be ≈500 cm s^-1 at 5 V (7 kV cm^-1 ), orders-of-magnitude faster than expected. These combinations of properties are promising for high-speed tunable dielectrics and low-voltage ferroelectric memories and logic.

Mechanistic Differences between Electrochemical Hydrogenation and Hydrogenolysis of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural and Their pH Dependence

Hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis are two important reactions for electrochemical reductive valorization of biomass-derived oxygenates such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). In general, hydrogenolysis (which combines hydrogenation and deoxygenation) is more challenging than hydrogenation (which does not involve the cleavage of carbon-oxygen bonds). Thus, identifying factors and conditions that can promote hydrogenolysis is of great interest for reductive valorization of biomass-derived oxygenates. For the electrochemical reduction of HMF and its derivatives, it is known that aldehyde hydrogenation is not a part of aldehyde hydrogenolysis but rather a competing reaction; however, no atomic-level understanding is currently available to explain their electrochemical mechanistic differences. In this study, combined experimental and computational investigations were performed using Cu electrodes to elucidate the key mechanistic differences between electrochemical hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis of HMF. The results revealed that hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis of HMF involve the formation of different surface-adsorbed intermediates via different reduction mechanisms and that lowering the pH promoted the formation of the intermediates required for aldehyde and alcohol hydrogenolysis. This study for the first time explains the origins of the experimentally observed pH-dependent selectivities for hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis and offers a new mechanistic foundation upon which rational strategies to control electrochemical hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis can be developed.

Persona of Transition Metal Ions in Solids: A Statistical Learning on Local Structures of Transition Metal Oxides

The local structure of a transition metal (TM) ion is a function of cation elements and valence states. More than that, in this work, by employing a trove of first-principles data of TM oxides, the local structures of TM cations are statistically analyzed to extract detailed information about cation site preference, bond length, site structural distortion, and cation magnetization. It is found that cation radius alone poorly describes the local structure of a transition metal oxide, while the statistics of coordination number as well as the TMO bond length distribution, especially that of the 3d TMs, can provide comprehensive knowledge for understanding the behavior of TM elements. Based on these statistics, the interplay of site distortion due to the Jahn-Teller effect, cation site similarity, and a new set of ionic radii are all obtained to chart the "persona" of transition metal ions in solids.

An expanded role for the transcription factor WRINKLED1 in the biosynthesis of triacylglycerols during seed development

The transcription factor WRINKLED1 (WRI1) is known as a master regulator of fatty acid synthesis in developing oilseeds of Arabidopsis thaliana and other species. WRI1 is known to directly stimulate the expression of many fatty acid biosynthetic enzymes and a few targets in the lower part of the glycolytic pathway. However, it remains unclear to what extent and how the conversion of sugars into fatty acid biosynthetic precursors is controlled by WRI1. To shortlist possible gene targets for future in-planta experimental validation, here we present a strategy that combines phylogenetic foot printing of cis-regulatory elements with additional layers of evidence. Upstream regions of protein-encoding genes in A. thaliana were searched for the previously described DNA-binding consensus for WRI1, the ASML1/WRI1 (AW)-box. For about 900 genes, AW-box sites were found to be conserved across orthologous upstream regions in 11 related species of the crucifer family. For 145 select potential target genes identified this way, affinity of upstream AW-box sequences to WRI1 was assayed by Microscale Thermophoresis. This allowed definition of a refined WRI1 DNA-binding consensus. We find that known WRI1 gene targets are predictable with good confidence when upstream AW-sites are phylogenetically conserved, specifically binding WRI1 in the in vitro assay, positioned in proximity to the transcriptional start site, and if the gene is co-expressed with WRI1 during seed development. When targets predicted in this way are mapped to central metabolism, a conserved regulatory blueprint emerges that infers concerted control of contiguous pathway sections in glycolysis and fatty acid biosynthesis by WRI1. Several of the newly predicted targets are in the upper glycolysis pathway and the pentose phosphate pathway. Of these, plastidic isoforms of fructokinase (FRK3) and of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI1) are particularly corroborated by previously reported seed phenotypes of respective null mutations.

One-Step Thermal Gradient- and Antisolvent-Free Crystallization of All-Inorganic Perovskites for Highly Efficient and Thermally Stable Solar Cells

All-inorganic perovskites have emerged as promising photovoltaic materials due to their superior thermal stability compared to their heat-sensitive hybrid organic-inorganic counterparts. In particular, CsPbI2 Br shows the highest potential for developing thermally-stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs) among all-inorganic compositions. However, controlling the crystallinity and morphology of all-inorganic compositions is a significant challenge. Here, a simple, thermal gradient- and antisolvent-free method is reported to control the crystallization of CsPbI2 Br films. Optical in situ characterization is used to investigate the dynamic film formation during spin-coating and annealing to understand and optimize the evolving film properties. This leads to high-quality perovskite films with micrometer-scale grain sizes with a noteworthy performance of 17% (≈16% stabilized), fill factor (FF) of 80.5%, and open-circuit voltage (VOC ) of 1.27 V. Moreover, excellent phase and thermal stability are demonstrated even after extreme thermal stressing at 300 °C.

Structural studies of antitumor compounds that target the RING domain of MDM2

Mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) is an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase that is involved in the transfer of ubiquitin to p53 and other protein substrates. The expression of MDM2 is elevated in cancer cells and inhibitors of MDM2 showed potent anticancer activities. Many inhibitors target the p53 binding domain of MDM2. However, inhibitors such as Inulanolide A and MA242 are found to bind the RING domain of MDM2 to block ubiquitin transfer. In this report, crystal structures of MDM2 RING domain in complex with Inulanolide A and MA242 were solved. These inhibitors primarily bind in a hydrophobic site centered at the sidechain of Tyr489 at the C-terminus of MDM2 RING domain. The C-terminus of MDM2 RING domain, especially residue Tyr489, is required for ubiquitin discharge induced by MDM2. The binding of these inhibitors at Tyr489 may interrupt interactions between the MDM2 RING domain and the E2-Ubiquitin complex to inhibit ubiquitin transfer, regardless of what the substrate is. Our results suggest a new mechanism of inhibition of MDM2 E3 activity for a broad spectrum of substrates.

Effective Mechanisms for Improving Seed Oil Production in Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) Highlighted by Integration of Comparative Metabolomics and Transcriptomics

Pennycress is a potentially lucrative biofuel crop due to its high content of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids, and because it uses non-conventional pathways to achieve efficient oil production. However, metabolic engineering is required to improve pennycress oilseed content and make it an economically viable source of aviation fuel. Research is warranted to determine if further upregulation of these non-conventional pathways could improve oil production within the species even more, which would indicate these processes serve as promising metabolic engineering targets and could provide the improvement necessary for economic feasibility of this crop. To test this hypothesis, we performed a comparative biomass, metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses between a high oil accession (HO) and low oil accession (LO) of pennycress to assess potential factors required to optimize oil content. An evident reduction in glycolysis intermediates, improved oxidative pentose phosphate pathway activity, malate accumulation in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and an anaplerotic pathway upregulation were noted in the HO genotype. Additionally, higher levels of threonine aldolase transcripts imply a pyruvate bypass mechanism for acetyl-CoA production. Nucleotide sugar and ascorbate accumulation also were evident in HO, suggesting differential fate of associated carbon between the two genotypes. An altered transcriptome related to lipid droplet (LD) biosynthesis and stability suggests a contribution to a more tightly-packed LD arrangement in HO cotyledons. In addition to the importance of central carbon metabolism augmentation, alternative routes of carbon entry into fatty acid synthesis and modification, as well as transcriptionally modified changes in LD regulation, are key aspects of metabolism and storage associated with economically favorable phenotypes of the species.

Habitat-adapted microbial communities mediate Sphagnum peatmoss resilience to warming

Sphagnum peatmosses are fundamental members of peatland ecosystems, where they contribute to the uptake and long-term storage of atmospheric carbon. Warming threatens Sphagnum mosses and is known to alter the composition of their associated microbiome. Here, we use a microbiome transfer approach to test if microbiome thermal origin influences host plant thermotolerance. We leveraged an experimental whole-ecosystem warming study to collect field-grown Sphagnum, mechanically separate the associated microbiome and then transfer onto germ-free laboratory Sphagnum for temperature experiments. Host and microbiome dynamics were assessed with growth analysis, Chla fluorescence imaging, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics and 16S rDNA profiling. Microbiomes originating from warming field conditions imparted enhanced thermotolerance and growth recovery at elevated temperatures. Metagenome and metatranscriptome analyses revealed that warming altered microbial community structure in a manner that induced the plant heat shock response, especially the HSP70 family and jasmonic acid production. The heat shock response was induced even without warming treatment in the laboratory, suggesting that the warm-microbiome isolated from the field provided the host plant with thermal preconditioning. Our results demonstrate that microbes, which respond rapidly to temperature alterations, can play key roles in host plant growth response to rapidly changing environments.

Tuning the Coherent Propagation of Organic Exciton-Polaritons through Dark State Delocalization

While there have been numerous reports of long-range polariton transport at room-temperature in organic cavities, the spatiotemporal evolution of the propagation is scarcely reported, particularly in the initial coherent sub-ps regime, where photon and exciton wavefunctions are inextricably mixed. Hence the detailed process of coherent organic exciton-polariton transport and, in particular, the role of dark states has remained poorly understood. Here, femtosecond transient absorption microscopy is used to directly image coherent polariton motion in microcavities of varying quality factor. The transport is found to be well-described by a model of band-like propagation of an initially Gaussian distribution of exciton-polaritons in real space. The velocity of the polaritons reaches values of ≈ 0.65 × 10⁶ m s^-1 , substantially lower than expected from the polariton dispersion. Further, it is found that the velocity is proportional to the quality factor of the microcavity. This unexpected link between the quality-factor and polariton velocity is suggested to be a result of varying admixing between delocalized dark and polariton states.

Closo-Borate Gel Polymer Electrolyte with Remarkable Electrochemical Stability and a Wide Operating Temperature Window

A major challenge in the pursuit of higher-energy-density lithium batteries for carbon-neutral-mobility is electrolyte compatibility with a lithium metal electrode. This study demonstrates the robust and stable nature of a closo-borate based gel polymer electrolyte (GPE), which enables outstanding electrochemical stability and capacity retention upon extensive cycling. The GPE developed herein has an ionic conductivity of 7.3 × 10^-4  S cm^-2 at room temperature and stability over a wide temperature range from -35 to 80 °C with a high lithium transference number ( tLi+$t_{{\rm{Li}}}^ + $ = 0.51). Multinuclear nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared are used to understand the solvation environment and interaction between the GPE components. Density functional theory calculations are leveraged to gain additional insight into the coordination environment and support spectroscopic interpretations. The GPE is also established to be a suitable electrolyte for extended cycling with four different active electrode materials when paired with a lithium metal electrode. The GPE can also be incorporated into a flexible battery that is capable of being cut and still functional. The incorporation of a closo-borate into a gel polymer matrix represents a new direction for enhancing the electrochemical and physical properties of this class of materials.

Testing unified theories for ozone response in C4 species

There is tremendous interspecific variability in O₃  sensitivity among C₃  species, but variation among C₄  species has been less clearly documented. It is also unclear whether stomatal conductance and leaf structure such as leaf mass per area (LMA) determine the variation in sensitivity to O₃ across species. In this study, we investigated leaf morphological, chemical, and photosynthetic responses of 22 genotypes of four C₄ bioenergy species (switchgrass, sorghum, maize, and miscanthus) to elevated O₃ in side-by-side field experiments using free-air O₃ concentration enrichment (FACE). The C₄  species varied largely in leaf morphology, physiology, and nutrient composition. Elevated O₃ did not alter leaf morphology, nutrient content, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence, and respiration in most genotypes but reduced net CO₂ assimilation in maize and photosynthetic capacity in sorghum and maize. Species with lower LMA and higher stomatal conductance tended to show greater losses in photosynthetic rate and capacity in elevated O₃ compared with species with higher LMA and lower stomatal conductance. Stomatal conductance was the strongest determinant of leaf photosynthetic rate and capacity. The response of both area- and mass-based leaf photosynthetic rate and capacity to elevated O₃ were not affected by LMA directly but negatively influenced by LMA indirectly through stomatal conductance. These results demonstrate that there is significant variation in O₃  sensitivity among C₄  species with maize and sorghum showing greater sensitivity of photosynthesis to O₃ than switchgrass and miscanthus. Interspecific variation in O₃  sensitivity was determined by direct effects of stomatal conductance and indirect effects of LMA. This is the first study to provide a test of unifying theories explaining variation in O₃  sensitivity in C₄ bioenergy grasses. These findings advance understanding of O₃ tolerance in C₄  grasses and could aid in optimal placement of diverse C₄ bioenergy feedstock across a polluted landscape.

Chromosome-level Thlaspi arvense genome provides new tools for translational research and for a newly domesticated cash cover crop of the cooler climates

Thlaspi arvense (field pennycress) is being domesticated as a winter annual oilseed crop capable of improving ecosystems and intensifying agricultural productivity without increasing land use. It is a selfing diploid with a short life cycle and is amenable to genetic manipulations, making it an accessible field-based model species for genetics and epigenetics. The availability of a high-quality reference genome is vital for understanding pennycress physiology and for clarifying its evolutionary history within the Brassicaceae. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of var. MN106-Ref with improved gene annotation and use it to investigate gene structure differences between two accessions (MN108 and Spring32-10) that are highly amenable to genetic transformation. We describe non-coding RNAs, pseudogenes and transposable elements, and highlight tissue-specific expression and methylation patterns. Resequencing of forty wild accessions provided insights into genome-wide genetic variation, and QTL regions were identified for a seedling colour phenotype. Altogether, these data will serve as a tool for pennycress improvement in general and for translational research across the Brassicaceae.

Optimizing Piezoelectric Nanocomposites by High-Throughput Phase-Field Simulation and Machine Learning

Piezoelectric nanocomposites with oxide fillers in a polymer matrix combine the merit of high piezoelectric response of the oxides and flexibility as well as biocompatibility of the polymers. Understanding the role of the choice of materials and the filler-matrix architecture is critical to achieving desired functionality of a composite towards applications in flexible electronics and energy harvest devices. Herein, a high-throughput phase-field simulation is conducted to systematically reveal the influence of morphology and spatial orientation of an oxide filler on the piezoelectric, mechanical, and dielectric properties of the piezoelectric nanocomposites. It is discovered that with a constant filler volume fraction, a composite composed of vertical pillars exhibits superior piezoelectric response and electromechanical coupling coefficient as compared to the other geometric configurations. An analytical regression is established from a linear regression-based machine learning model, which can be employed to predict the performance of nanocomposites filled with oxides with a given set of piezoelectric coefficient, dielectric permittivity, and stiffness. This work not only sheds light on the fundamental mechanism of piezoelectric nanocomposites, but also offers a promising material design strategy for developing high-performance polymer/inorganic oxide composite-based wearable electronics.

Oxide Two-Dimensional Electron Gas with High Mobility at Room-Temperature

The prospect of 2-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) possessing high mobility at room temperature in wide-bandgap perovskite stannates is enticing for oxide electronics, particularly to realize transparent and high-electron mobility transistors. Nonetheless only a small number of studies to date report 2DEGs in BaSnO₃ -based heterostructures. Here, 2DEG formation at the LaScO₃ /BaSnO₃ (LSO/BSO) interface with a room-temperature mobility of 60 cm²  V^-1  s^-1 at a carrier concentration of 1.7 × 10¹³  cm^-2 is reported. This is an order of magnitude higher mobility at room temperature than achieved in SrTiO₃ -based 2DEGs. This is achieved by combining a thick BSO buffer layer with an ex situ high-temperature treatment, which not only reduces the dislocation density but also produces a SnO₂ -terminated atomically flat surface, followed by the growth of an overlying BSO/LSO interface. Using weak beam dark-field transmission electron microscopy imaging and in-line electron holography technique, a reduction of the threading dislocation density is revealed, and direct evidence for the spatial confinement of a 2DEG at the BSO/LSO interface is provided. This work opens a new pathway to explore the exciting physics of stannate-based 2DEGs at application-relevant temperatures for oxide nanoelectronics.

Microemulsions: Breakthrough Electrolytes for Redox Flow Batteries

Aqueous and non-aqueous redox flow batteries (RFBs) have limited energy and current densities, respectively, due to the nature of the electrolytes. New approaches to electrolyte design are needed to improve the performance of RFBs. In this work, we combined a highly conductive aqueous phase and an organic redox-active phase in a microemulsion to formulate a novel RFB electrolyte. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate an RFB using this microemulsion electrolyte with maximum current density of 17.5 mA·cm⁻² with a 0.19 M posolyte and 0.09 M negolyte at a flow rate of only ∼2.5 ml·min⁻¹, comparable to early vanadium electrolyte RFBs at similar flow rates on a per molar basis. The novel active negolyte component is an inexpensive oil-soluble vitamin (K₃). By combining aqueous and organic phases, the solvent potential window and energy density may be increased without sacrificing current density and new redox couples may be accessed. Microemulsion electrolytes show great promise for improved performance and increased energy densities in aqueous RFBs but the path forward is complex. We end with discussion of areas that need work to achieve the potential of these electrolytes.

Complex Oxides under Simulated Electric Field: Determinants of Defect Polarization in ABO3 Perovskites

Polarization of ionic and electronic defects in response to high electric fields plays an essential role in determining properties of materials in applications such as memristive devices. However, isolating the polarization response of individual defects has been challenging for both models and measurements. Here the authors quantify the nonlinear dielectric response of neutral oxygen vacancies, comprised of strongly localized electrons at an oxygen vacancy site, in perovskite oxides of the form ABO3 . Their approach implements a computationally efficient local Hubbard U correction in density functional theory simulations. These calculations indicate that the electric dipole moment of this defect is correlated positively with the lattice volume, which they varied by elastic strain and by A-site cation species. In addition, the dipole of the neutral oxygen vacancy under electric field increases with increasing reducibility of the B-site cation. The predicted relationship among point defect polarization, mechanical strain, and transition metal chemistry provides insights for the properties of memristive materials and devices under high electric fields.

A New Method to Overcome Carboxyamide Formation During AFEX Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs) in the plant cell wall are responsible for providing resistance against biomass-degrading enzymes produced by microorganisms. Four major types of lignin-carbohydrate bonds are reported in the literature, namely, benzyl ethers, benzyl esters, phenyl glycosides, and acetyl ester linkages. Ester’s linkages in the plant cell wall are labile to alkaline pretreatments, such as ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX), which uses liquid or gaseous ammonia to cleave those linkages in the plant cell wall and reduce biomass recalcitrance. Two competing reactions, notably hydrolysis and ammonolysis, take place during AFEX pretreatment process, producing different aliphatic and aromatic acids, as well as their amide counterparts. AFEX pretreated grasses and agricultural residues are known to increase conversion of biomass to sugars by four- to five-fold when subjected to commercial enzyme hydrolysis, yielding a sustainable feedstock for producing biofuels, biomaterials, and animal feed. Animal feed trials on dairy cows have demonstrated a 27% increase in milk production when compared to a control feedstock. However, the presence of carboxamides in feedstocks could promote neurotoxicity in animals if consumed beyond a certain concentration. Thus, there is the need to overcome regulatory hurdles associated with commercializing AFEX pretreated biomass as animal feed in the United States. This manuscript demonstrates a modified pretreatment for increasing the digestibility of industrial byproducts such as Brewer’s spent grains (BSG) and high-fiber meal (HFM) produced from BSG and dry distillers grains with soluble (DDGS), while avoiding the production of carboxamides. The three industrial byproducts were first treated with calculated amounts of alkali such as NaOH, Ca(OH)2, or KOH followed by AFEX pretreatment. We found that 4% alkali was able to de-esterify BSG and DDGS more efficiently than using 2% alkali at both 10 and 20% solids loading. AFEX pretreatment of de-esterified BSG, HFM, and DDGS produced twofold higher glucan conversion than respective untreated biomass. This new discovery can help overcome potential regulatory issues associated with the presence of carboxamides in ammonia-pretreated animal feeds and is expected to benefit several farmers around the world.

Multilayer Lateral Heterostructures of Van Der Waals Crystals with Sharp, Carrier-Transparent Interfaces

Research on engineered materials that integrate different 2D crystals has largely focused on two prototypical heterostructures: Vertical van der Waals stacks and lateral heterostructures of covalently stitched monolayers. Extending lateral integration to few layer or even multilayer van der Waals crystals could enable architectures that combine the superior light absorption and photonic properties of thicker crystals with close proximity to interfaces and efficient carrier separation within the layers, potentially benefiting applications such as photovoltaics. Here, the realization of multilayer heterstructures of the van der Waals semiconductors SnS and GeS with lateral interfaces spanning up to several hundred individual layers is demonstrated. Structural and chemical imaging identifies {110} interfaces that are perpendicular to the (001) layer plane and are laterally localized and sharp on a 10 nm scale across the entire thickness. Cathodoluminescence spectroscopy provides evidence for a facile transfer of electron-hole pairs across the lateral interfaces, indicating covalent stitching with high electronic quality and a low density of recombination centers.

Reviewing clinical considerations and guideline recommendations of C1 inhibitor prophylaxis for hereditary angioedema

BACKGROUND

Hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare disease that is characterized by painful and recurring non-allergic swelling episodes, is caused by the deficiency or dysfunction of C1 inhibitor (C1INH) protein. A comprehensive HAE management plan may require long-term prophylaxis (LTP) in addition to on-demand treatment to help "normalize" patients' lives so that they may fully engage in work, school, family, and leisure activities.

AIM

The main objective of this narrative review is to provide an overview of updated guideline recommendations specific to LTP of HAE and discuss clinical considerations and pharmacologic management options, with a focus on C1INH.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The authors reviewed relevant HAE literature for current recommendations regarding LTP and the role of C1NH.

RESULTS

Acute HAE attacks are treated with on-demand medication; however, there is a consensus that LTP should routinely be considered for risk reduction and prevention of future episodes. The 2017 World Allergy Organization/European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology guidelines recommend that all patients with HAE be evaluated for LTP routinely and the 2020 HAE Association (HAEA) guidelines emphasize that the decision to use LTP should not be based on rigid criteria, but rather should be based on individual patient needs. Both guidelines recommend C1INH as first-line/preferred therapy for LTP in a range of patient types including adults, children/adolescents, and pregnant/lactating patients. The HAEA also recommends the kallikrein inhibitor, lanadelumab, as a first-line option for LTP. HAE pathway-specific agents for LTP have not been associated with notable safety concerns.

DISCUSSION

Plasma-derived C1INH has been available for 40+ years in Europe and impacts multiple targets within the HAE pathway. C1INH has been used for on-demand treatment and LTP. A subcutaneous formulation of plasma-derived C1INH is approved for LTP and produces functional C1INH activity levels consistently above the threshold needed for protection from HAE attacks. Other pathway-specific options for LTP include the plasma kallikrein inhibitors, lanadelumab-flyo and berotralstat, approved for adults and pediatric patients aged ≥12 years. C1INH is approved for adults and pediatric patients aged ≥6 years.

CONCLUSION

Assessing the need for LTP is vital in the ongoing dialogue between clinicians and patients, as both disease-related factors and patient preferences may change over time. Among available options for LTP, plasma-derived C1INH is the broadly recommended first-line option for LTP in patients with HAE, including pregnant/lactating women and pediatric patients (≥6 years).

Domain Wall Patterning and Giant Response Functions in Ferrimagnetic Spinels

The manipulation of mesoscale domain wall phenomena has emerged as a powerful strategy for designing ferroelectric responses in functional devices, but its full potential is not yet realized in the field of magnetism. This work shows a direct connection between magnetic response functions in mechanically strained samples of Mn3 O4 and MnV2 O4 and stripe-like patternings of the bulk magnetization which appear below known magnetostructural transitions. Building off previous magnetic force microscopy data, a small-angle neutron scattering is used to show that these patterns represent distinctive magnetic phenomena which extend throughout the bulk of two separate materials, and further are controllable via applied magnetic field and mechanical stress. These results are unambiguously connected to the anomalously large magnetoelastic and magnetodielectric response functions reported for these materials, by performing susceptibility measurements on the same crystals and directly correlating local and macroscopic data.

Hybrid Porous Crystalline Materials from Metal Organic Frameworks and Covalent Organic Frameworks

Two frontier crystalline porous framework materials, namely, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), have been widely explored owing to their outstanding physicochemical properties. While each type of framework has its own intrinsic advantages and shortcomings for specific applications, combining the complementary properties of the two materials allows the engineering of new classes of hybrid porous crystalline materials with properties superior to the individual components. Since the first report of MOF/COF hybrid in 2016, it has rapidly evolved as a novel platform for diverse applications. The state-of-art advances in the various synthetic approaches of MOF/COF hybrids are hereby summarized, together with their applications in different areas. Perspectives on the main challenges and future opportunities are also offered in order to inspire a multidisciplinary effort toward the further development of chemically diverse, multi-functional hybrid porous crystalline materials.

Hydraulically-vulnerable trees survive on deep-water access during droughts in a tropical forest

Deep-water access is arguably the most effective, but under-studied, mechanism that plants employ to survive during drought. Vulnerability to embolism and hydraulic safety margins can predict mortality risk at given levels of dehydration, but deep-water access may delay plant dehydration. Here, we tested the role of deep-water access in enabling survival within a diverse tropical forest community in Panama using a novel data-model approach. We inversely estimated the effective rooting depth (ERD, as the average depth of water extraction), for 29 canopy species by linking diameter growth dynamics (1990-2015) to vapor pressure deficit, water potentials in the whole-soil column, and leaf hydraulic vulnerability curves. We validated ERD estimates against existing isotopic data of potential water-access depths. Across species, deeper ERD was associated with higher maximum stem hydraulic conductivity, greater vulnerability to xylem embolism, narrower safety margins, and lower mortality rates during extreme droughts over 35 years (1981-2015) among evergreen species. Species exposure to water stress declined with deeper ERD indicating that trees compensate for water stress-related mortality risk through deep-water access. The role of deep-water access in mitigating mortality of hydraulically-vulnerable trees has important implications for our predictive understanding of forest dynamics under current and future climates.

Hydrosilane σ-Adduct Intermediates in an Adaptive Zinc-Catalyzed Cross-dehydrocoupling of Si-H and O-H Bonds

Three-coordinate Ph BOXMe 2 ZnR (Ph BOXMe 2 =phenyl-(4,4-dimethyl-oxazolinato; R=Me: 2 a, Et: 2 b) catalyzes the dehydrocoupling of primary or secondary silanes and alcohols to give silyl ethers and hydrogen, with high turnover numbers (TON; up to 107 ) under solvent-free conditions. Primary and secondary silanes react with small, medium, and large alcohols to give various degrees of substitution, from mono- to tri-alkoxylation, whereas tri-substituted silanes do not react with MeOH under these conditions. The effect of coordinative unsaturation on the behavior of the Zn catalyst is revealed through a dramatic variation of both rate law and experimental rate constants, which depend on the concentrations of both the alcohol and hydrosilane reactants. That is, the catalyst adapts its mechanism to access the most facile and efficient conversion. In particular, either alcohol or hydrosilane binds to the open coordination site on the Ph BOXMe 2 ZnOR catalyst to form a Ph BOXMe 2 ZnOR(HOR) complex under one set of conditions or an unprecedented σ-adduct Ph BOXMe 2 ZnOR(H-SiR'3 ) under other conditions. Saturation kinetics provide evidence for the latter species, in support of the hypothesis that σ-bond metathesis reactions involving four-centered electrocyclic 2σ-2σ transition states are preceded by σ-adducts.