Dual-sided transparent display enabled by polymer stabilized liquid crystals for augmented reality.

In the past decade, display technology has been reimagined to meet the needs of the virtual world. By mapping information onto a scene through a transparent display, users can simultaneously visualize both the real world and layers of virtual elements. However, advances in augmented reality technology have primarily focused on wearable gear or personal devices.

Preferred Lung Accumulation of Polystyrene Nanoplastics with Negative Charges.

With the increasing presence of nanoplastics (NPs) in the human bloodstream, it is urgent to investigate their tissue accumulation and potential health risks. This study examines the effects of the size and surface charges of polystyrene (PS) NPs on lung accumulation. Using magnetic separation, we identified the protein corona composition on iron-core PS NPs, revealing the enrichment of vitronectin and fibrinogen.

A polyamino acid-based phosphatidyl polymer library for mRNA delivery with spleen targeting ability.

A qualified delivery system is crucial for the successful application of messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. While lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are currently the predominant platform for mRNA delivery, they encounter challenges such as high inflammation and difficulties in targeting non-liver tissues. Polymers offer a promising delivery solution, albeit with limitations including low transfection efficiency and potential high toxicity.

Nickel/photoredox dual catalyzed arylalkylation of nonactivated alkenes.

Alkene dicarbofunctionalization is an efficient strategy and operation-economic fashion for introducing complexity in molecules. A nickel/photoredox dual catalyzed arylalkylation of nonactivated alkenes for the simultaneous construction of one C(sp)-C(sp) bond and one C(sp)-C(sp) bond has been developed. The mild catalytic method provided valuable indanethylamine derivatives with wide substrate scope and good functional group compatibility.

Effects of combined antibiotics on nitrification, bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in activated sludge: Insights from legacy effect of antibiotics.

The effect of combined antibiotics exposure on nitrogen removal, microbial community assembly and proliferation of antibiotics resistance genes (ARGs) is a hotspot in activated sludge system. However, it is unclear that how the historical antibiotic stress affects the subsequent responses of microbes and ARGs to combined antibiotics. In this study, the effects of combined sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and trimethoprim (TMP) pollution on activated sludge under legacy of SMX or TMP stress with different doses (0.

New insights into sulfur input induced methylmercury production and accumulation in paddy soil and rice.

Sulfur has a high affinity for mercury (Hg) and can serve as effective treating agent for Hg pollution. However, conflict effects between reducing Hg mobility and promoting Hg methylation by sulfur were found in recent studies, and there is a gap in understanding the potential mechanism of MeHg production under different sulfur-treated species and doses. Here, we investigated and compared the MeHg production in Hg-contaminated paddy soil and its accumulation in rice under elemental sulfur or sulfate treatment at a relatively low (500 mg·kg) or high (1000 mg·kg) level.

Amendments of nitrogen and sulfur mitigate carbon-promoting effect on microbial mercury methylation in paddy soils.

The imbalance of nutrient elements in paddy soil could affect biogeochemical processes; however, how the key elements input influence microbially-driven conversion of mercury (Hg) to neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) remains virtually unknown. Herein, we conducted a series of microcosm experiments to explore the effects of certain species of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) on microbial MeHg production in two typical paddy soils (yellow and black soil). Results showed that the addition of C alone into the soils increased MeHg production approximately 2-13 times in the yellow and black soils; while the combined addition of N and C mitigated the C- promoting effect significantly.

Temporal changes of blood mercury concentrations in Chinese newborns and the general public from 1980s to 2020s.

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant that threatens the environment and human health. As a major producer, emitter and consumer of Hg, China is currently taking different measures to curb mercury pollution in accordance with the requirements of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Blood Hg can reflect the human body's recent exposure to Hg.

Gut as the target tissue of mercury and the extraintestinal effects.

Mercury (Hg) is harmful to the environment and human health. The gut plays important roles as the biological, chemical, mechanical, and immune barriers in animals and human beings. It has been known that Hg can be absorbed and methylated/demethylated in the gut, on the other hand, the impacts of Hg to the gut (especially the gut microbiota) is less studied.

Decatungstate Catalyzed Photochemical Acetylation of C(sp)-H Bonds.

A direct acetylation of inert C(sp)-H bonds was developed that was catalyzed by decatungstate under visible light irradiation and was followed by radical addition-disassociation with phenylsulfonyl ethanone oxime. The reaction displays site-selectivity in multiple C(sp)-H bonds without prefunctionalization and directing groups. Various functional groups are well-tolerated and natural molecules are structurally feasible.

[Historical Antibiotic Stress Changed the Effects of Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim on Activated Sludge: ARGs and Potential Hosts].

The co-exposure of antibiotics has important effects on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and microbial community aggregation in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, it is unclear whether differences in historical antibiotic exposure stress can determine responses of microbes and ARGs to combined antibiotics. By selecting a high concentration (30 mg·L) of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and trimethoprim (TMP) as historical exposure stress conditions, the effects of SMX and TMP-combined pollution on ARGs, bacterial communities, and their interactions were explored in short-term experiments.

Fates of antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial/archaeal communities of activated sludge under stress of copper: Gradient increasing/decreasing exposure modes.

Effect of copper (Cu) on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and bacterial/archaeal community of activated sludge under gradient increasing (0.5-10 mg/L) or decreasing exposure (10-0.5 mg/L) modes was explored.

Mechanistic insights into sulfate and phosphate-mediated hexavalent chromium removal by tea polyphenols wrapped nano-zero-valent iron.

Nano zero-valent iron via green synthesis (g-nZVI) has great potential in removing toxic hexavalent Cr(VI) from industrial wastewater. Sulfate and phosphate in wastewater can influence Cr(VI) removal by g-nZVI. In this study, the Cr(VI) removal kinetics by different g-nZVI materials were investigated with the existence of sulfate and/or phosphate, and the corresponding mechanisms were first revealed using multiple characterizations, including X-ray absorption near-edge spectra (XANES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

In Situ Reprogramming of Tumors for Activating the OX40/OX40 Ligand Checkpoint Pathway and Boosting Antitumor Immunity.

OX40 (CD134, TNFRSF4) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily that can be activated by its cognate ligand OX40L (CD252, TNFSF4) and functions as a pair of T cell costimulatory molecules. The interaction between OX40 and OX40L (OX40/OX40L) plays a critical role in regulating antitumor immunity, including promoting effector T cells expansion and survival, blocking natural regulatory T cells (T) activity, and antagonizing inducible T generation. However, current OX40 agonists including anti-OX40 monoclonal antibodies (aOX40) have serious side effects after systemic administration, which limits their clinical success and application.

Diabetic Retinopathy Grading by Deep Graph Correlation Network on Retinal Images Without Manual Annotations.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy, as a severe public health problem associated with vision loss, should be diagnosed early using an accurate screening tool. While many previous deep learning models have been proposed for this disease, they need sufficient professional annotation data to train the model, requiring more expensive and time-consuming screening skills.

Method: This study aims to economize manual power and proposes a deep graph correlation network (DGCN) to develop automated diabetic retinopathy grading without any professional annotations.

Non-targeted metallomics through synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence with machine learning for cancer screening using blood samples.

Cancer is the leading cause of death in many countries. The development of new methods for early screening of cancers is highly desired. Targeted metallomics has been successfully applied in the screening of cancers through quantification of elements in the matrix, which is time consuming and requires combined techniques for the quantification due to the large elemental difference in the matrix.

Roles of plant-associated microorganisms in regulating the fate of Hg in croplands: A perspective on potential pathways in maintaining sustainable agriculture.

In heavy metal-contaminated croplands, plant-associated microorganisms play important roles in the adaptation of crops to heavy metals. Plant-associated microbes can interact with Hg and stimulate plant resistance to Hg toxicity, which is crucial for impeding Hg accumulation along the food chain. The roles of rhizosphere microorganisms for the improvement of plant growth and Hg resistance have drawn great research attention.

Mercury Reduction, Uptake, and Species Transformation by Freshwater Alga under Sunlit and Dark Conditions.

As a major entry point of mercury (Hg) to aquatic food webs, algae play an important role in taking up and transforming Hg species in aquatic ecosystems. However, little is known how and to what extent Hg reduction, uptake, and species transformations are mediated by algal cells and their exudates, algal organic matter (AOM), under either sunlit or dark conditions. Here, using (CV) as one of the most prevalent freshwater model algal species, we show that solar irradiation could enhance the reduction of mercuric Hg(II) to elemental Hg(0) by both CV cells and AOM.

The dissimilarity of antibiotic and quorum sensing inhibitor on activated sludge nitrification system: Microbial communities and antibiotic resistance genes.

Effects of antibiotics (azithromycin, AZM, 1-40 mg/L) and quorum sensing inhibitor (QSI, 2(5H)-furanone, 1-40 mg/L) combined pollution with environmental concentration of copper on bacterial/archaeal community and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in activated sludge system were explored. QSI inhibited nitrification more obviously than AZM. AZM and QSI were synergistic inhibitions on bacterial diversity, and AZM inhibited bacterial compositions more than QSI.

Assessment of the Bioavailability of Mercury Sulfides in Paddy Soils Using Sodium Thiosulfate Extraction - Results from Microcosm Experiments.

Mercury sulfides (HgS), one of the largest Hg sinks in the lithosphere, has long been considered to be highly inert. Recently, several HgS speciation (e.g.