The FvABF3-FvALKBH10B-FvSEP3 cascade regulates fruit ripening in strawberry.

Fruit ripening is a highly-orchestrated process that requires the fine-tuning and precise control of gene expression, which is mainly governed by phytohormones, epigenetic modifiers, and transcription factors. How these intrinsic regulators coordinately modulate the ripening remains elusive. Here we report the identification and characterization of FvALKBH10B as an N-methyladenosine (mA) RNA demethylase necessary for the normal ripening of strawberry (Fragaria vesca) fruit.

Aging-induced immune microenvironment remodeling fosters melanoma in male mice via γδ17-Neutrophil-CD8 axis.

Aging is associated with increased tumor metastasis and poor prognosis. However, how an aging immune system contributes to the process is unclear. Here, single-cell RNA sequencing reveals that in male mice, aging shifts the lung immune microenvironment towards a premetastatic niche, characterized by an increased proportion of IL-17-expressing γδT (γδ17) and neutrophils.

Strongly coordinating mediator enables single-step resource recovery from heavy metal-organic complexes in wastewater.

Heavy metals complexed with organic ligands are among the most critical carcinogens threatening global water safety. The challenge of efficiently and cost-effectively removing and recovering these metals has long eluded existing technologies. Here, we show a strategy of coordinating mediator-based electro-reduction (CMBER) for the single-step recovery of heavy metals from wastewater contaminated with heavy metal-organic complexes.

Turning attention to tumor-host interface and focus on the peritumoral heterogeneity of glioblastoma.

Approximately 90% of glioblastoma recurrences occur in the peritumoral brain zone (PBZ), while the spatial heterogeneity of the PBZ is not well studied. In this study, two PBZ tissues and one tumor tissue sample are obtained from each patient via preoperative imaging. We assess the microenvironment and the characteristics of infiltrating immune/tumor cells using various techniques.

Asymmetric synthesis of atropisomers featuring cyclobutane boronic esters facilitated by ring-strained B-ate complexes.

The strain-release-driven reactions of bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes (BCBs) have received significant attention from chemists.

Orthogonal and multiplexable genetic perturbations with an engineered prime editor and a diverse RNA array.

Programmable and modular systems capable of orthogonal genomic and transcriptomic perturbations are crucial for biological research and treating human genetic diseases. Here, we present the minimal versatile genetic perturbation technology (mvGPT), a flexible toolkit designed for simultaneous and orthogonal gene editing, activation, and repression in human cells. The mvGPT combines an engineered compact prime editor (PE), a fusion activator MS2-p65-HSF1 (MPH), and a drive-and-process multiplex array that produces RNAs tailored to different types of genetic perturbation.

SARS-CoV-2 infection of human pluripotent stem cell-derived vascular cells reveals smooth muscle cells as key mediators of vascular pathology during infection.

Although respiratory symptoms are the most prevalent disease manifestation of infection by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), nearly 20% of hospitalized patients are at risk for thromboembolic events. This prothrombotic state is considered a key factor in the increased risk of stroke, which is observed clinically during both acute infection and long after symptoms clear. Here, we develop a model of SARS-CoV-2 infection using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells (ECs), pericytes (PCs), and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) to recapitulate the vascular pathology associated with SARS-CoV-2 exposure.

Grain engineering for efficient near-infrared perovskite light-emitting diodes.

Metal halide perovskites show promise for next-generation light-emitting diodes, particularly in the near-infrared range, where they outperform organic and quantum-dot counterparts. However, they still fall short of costly III-V semiconductor devices, which achieve external quantum efficiencies above 30% with high brightness. Among several factors, controlling grain growth and nanoscale morphology is crucial for further enhancing device performance.

A coopetition-driven strategy of parallel/perpendicular aromatic stacking enabling metastable supramolecular polymerization.

Metastable supramolecular polymerization under kinetic control has recently been recognized as a closer way to biosystem than thermodynamic process. While impressive works on metastable supramolecular systems have been reported, the library of available non-covalent driving modes is still small and a simple yet versatile solution is highly desirable to design for easily regulating the energy landscapes of metastable aggregation. Herein, we propose a coopetition-driven metastability strategy for parallel/perpendicular aromatic stacking to construct metastable supramolecular polymers derived from a class of simple monomers consisting of lateral indoles and aromatic core.

Intensification of future subsurface marine heatwaves in an eddy-resolving model.

A shift in depth range enables marine organisms to adapt to marine heatwaves (MHWs). Subsurface MHWs could limit this pathway, yet their response to climate warming remains unclear. Here, using an eddy-resolving Earth system model forced under a high emission scenario, we project a robust global increase in subsurface MHWs driven by rising subsurface mean temperatures and enhanced temperature variability.

High piezoelectric property with exceptional stability in self-poled ferroelectric films.

Ferroelectric films are highly sought-after in micro-electro-mechanical systems, particularly with the trend towards miniaturization. However, their tendency to depolarize and degradation in piezoelectric properties when exposed to packaging procedures at temperatures exceeding 260 °C remains a significant challenge. Here, we reveal the prerequisites for self-poling and leverage these insights to achieve unprecedented macroscopic performance through a two-step approach involving texture construction and hierarchical heterogeneity engineering.

An adenosine analog shows high antiviral potency against coronavirus and arenavirus mainly through an unusual base pairing mode.

By targeting the essential viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), nucleoside analogs (NAs) have exhibited great potential in antiviral therapy for RNA virus-related diseases. However, most ribose-modified NAs do not present broad-spectrum features, likely due to differences in ribose-RdRP interactions across virus families. Here, we show that HNC-1664, an adenosine analog with modifications both in ribose and base, has broad-spectrum antiviral activity against positive-strand coronaviruses and negative-strand arenaviruses.

High-performance 2D electronic devices enabled by strong and tough two-dimensional polymer with ultra-low dielectric constant.

As the feature size of microelectronic circuits is scaling down to nanometer order, the increasing interconnect crosstalk, resistance-capacitance (RC) delay and power consumption can limit the chip performance and reliability. To address these challenges, new low-k dielectric (k < 2) materials need to be developed to replace current silicon dioxide (k = 3.9) or SiCOH, etc.

Combining synchrotron vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for isomer-specific mechanistic analysis with application to the benzyl self-reaction.

Elucidating the formation mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is crucial to understand processes in the contexts of combustion, environmental science, astrochemistry, and nanomaterials synthesis. An excited electronic-state pathway has been proposed to account for the formation of 14π aromatic anthracene in the benzyl (b-CH) self-reaction. Here, to improve our understanding of anthracene formation, we investigate CH bimolecular reactions in a tubular SiC microreactor through an isomer-resolved method that combines in situ synchrotron-radiation VUV photoionization mass spectrometry and ex-situ gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Gut Microbiota-Derived Hyocholic Acid Enhances Type 3 Immunity and Protects Against Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium in Neonatal Rats.

This study investigates how microbiome colonization influences the development of intestinal type 3 immunity in neonates. The results showed that reduced oxygen levels in the small intestine of neonatal rats induced by Saccharomyces boulardii accelerated microbiome colonization and type 3 immunity development, which protected against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection. Microbiome maturation increased the abundance of microbiome-encoded bile salt hydrolase (BSH) genes and hyocholic acid (HCA) levels.

Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Moyamoya Disease Using Serum Metabolic Fingerprints and Machine Learning.

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a progressive cerebrovascular disorder that increases the risk of intracranial ischemia and hemorrhage. Timely diagnosis and intervention can significantly reduce the risk of new-onset stroke in patients with MMD. However, the current diagnostic methods are invasive and expensive, and non-invasive diagnosis using biomarkers of MMD is rarely reported.

Toward Green Liquid Nitrogen Fertilizer Synthesis: Plasma-Driven Nitrogen Oxidation and Partial Electrocatalytic Reduction.

Liquid fertilizers, particularly when integrated with precision irrigation systems, offer a more efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional solid nitrogen fertilizers. The industrial production of ammonium nitrate (NHNO) is environmentally detrimental due to its reliance on fossil fuels. This study introduces an innovative air-to-NOx-to-NHNO pathway for synthesizing liquid nitrogen fertilizer.

From 2D AgTe Monolayer to 1D AgTe Nanowires: Tellurium Concentration Modulated Structural and Electronic Properties Transformation.

Controllably modulating the structure of transition-metal chalcogenides (TMCs) from 2D to 1D and tuning their electronic properties has drawn particular attention currently due to their remarkable properties and potential applications. In this work, by precisely controlling the chemical concentration of Te atoms, the transformation from the 2D honeycomb AgTe monolayer to high-quality and well-defined 1D AgTe nanowires on the Ag(111) substrate has been successfully achieved. The combination of scanning tunneling microscopy measurements and first-principles calculations has confirmed that the mechanism underlying the entire dimensional transformation lies in the directional movement of Ag atoms in the 2D AgTe monolayer regulated by the concentration of Te atoms.

Critical Role of Nanomaterial Mechanical Properties in Drug Delivery, Nanovaccines and Beyond.

Nanomaterials have become essential in the daily lives, finding applications in food, skincare, drugs, and vaccines. Traditionally, the surface chemistry of nanoparticles (NPs) is considered the key factor in determining their interactions with biological systems. However, recent studies have shown that the mechanical properties of nanomaterials are equally important in regulating nano-bio interactions, though they have often been overlooked.

The Doping of Al at the Tetrahedral Site of Spinel MnO for Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation.

Spinel oxides have attracted much attention for electrocatalytic water oxidation. Specially, the Mn-based spinel structures merits fundamental investigation, as Mn is involved in water oxidation in natural photosynthesis. Herein, Al-doped MnO spinel electrocatalyst was prepared for water oxidation.

Non-Cell-Based Extracorporeal Artificial Liver Systems: Historic Perspectives, Approaches and Mechanisms, Current Applications, and Challenges.

Background: Liver disease is a growing burden. Transplant organs are scarce. Extracorporeal liver support systems (ELSS) are a bridge to transplantation for eligible patients.

R3Design: deep tertiary structure-based RNA sequence design and beyond.

The rational design of Ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules is crucial for advancing therapeutic applications, synthetic biology, and understanding the fundamental principles of life. Traditional RNA design methods have predominantly focused on secondary structure-based sequence design, often neglecting the intricate and essential tertiary interactions. We introduce R3Design, a tertiary structure-based RNA sequence design method that shifts the paradigm to prioritize tertiary structure in the RNA sequence design.

Xixin Decoction May Treat VaD by Modulating the NPTX2/C1q/C3 Complement Pathway.

Vascular dementia (VaD) is a type of dementia that results from brain injury caused by cerebrovascular disease or vascular risk factors. Accumulating evidence from clinical studies has found that Xixin decoction can effectively improve the cognitive function of patients with VaD and improve their daily living ability. However, the pathogenesis of VaD is not fully understood, and the therapeutic mechanism of Xixin decoction is also unclear.

Interfacial Confinement Effect of Self-Adsorbed Monolayer Enables Highly Reversible Zn Metal Anodes.

The practical applications of aqueous Zn metal batteries are promising, yet still impeded by the corrosion reactions and dendrite growth on the Zn metal anode. Here, a self-adsorbed monolayer (SAM) is designed to stabilize the Zn metal anode. Theory and experiment results show that the interfacial confinement effect of the SAM, for one thing, greatly suppresses the corrosion reactions through the HO-poor inner Helmholtz plane because of the steric-hindrance effect, and for another, alleviates the Zn concentration gradient on the anode surface through the Zn enrichment behavior and eventually inhibits the dendrite growth.

LncRNA U731166 Increases the Accumulation of TGFBR1 by Sponging miR-3607-3p in Esophageal Squamous-Cell Carcinomas (ESCC) to Promote Tumor Metastasis.

Background: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) U731166 and microRNA (miR)-3607-3p are two ncRNAs with critical roles in cancer biology, while their involvement in esophageal squamous-cell carcinomas (ESCC) is unclear. We predicted that U731166 and miR-3607-3p might interact with each other. This study aimed to investigate their role and interaction in ESCC.