Non-metallic iodine single-atom catalysts with optimized electronic structures for efficient Fenton-like reactions.

In this study, we introduce a highly effective non-metallic iodine single-atom catalyst (SAC), referred to as I-NC, which is strategically confined within a nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) scaffold. This configuration features a distinctive C-I coordination that optimizes the electronic structure of the nitrogen-adjacent carbon sites. As a result, this arrangement enhances electron transfer from peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to the active sites, particularly the electron-deficient carbon.

Molecular mechanisms of cis-oxygen bridge neonicotinoids to Apis mellifera Linnaeus chemosensory protein: Surface plasmon resonance, multiple spectroscopy techniques, and molecular modeling.

Honeybees, essential pollinators for maintaining biodiversity, are experiencing a sharp population decline, which has become a pressing environmental concern. Among the factors implicated in this decline, neonicotinoid pesticides, particularly those belonging to the fourth generation, have been the focus of extensive scrutiny due to their potential risks to honeybees. This study investigates the molecular basis of these risks by examining the binding interactions between Apis mellifera L.

Ultrafast Water Purification by Template-Free Nanoconfined Catalysts Derived from Municipal Sludge.

Nanoconfinement at the interface of heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts offers promising avenues for advancing oxidation processes in water purification. Herein, we introduce a template-free strategy for synthesizing nanoconfined catalysts from municipal sludge (S-NCCs), specifically engineered to optimize reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and utilization for rapid pollutant degradation. Using selective hydrofluoric acid corrosion, we create an architecture that confines atomically dispersed Fe centers within a micro-mesoporous carbon matrix in situ.

A Paradigm of Computer Vision and Deep Learning Empowers the Strain Screening and Bioprocess Detection.

High-performance strain and corresponding fermentation process are essential for achieving efficient biomanufacturing. However, conventional offline detection methods for products are cumbersome and less stable, hindering the "Test" module in the operation of "Design-Build-Test-Learn" cycle for strain screening and fermentation process optimization. This study proposed and validated an innovative research paradigm combining computer vision with deep learning to facilitate efficient strain selection and effective fermentation process optimization.

Taming Highly Enolizable Aldehydes via Enzyme Catalysis for Enantiocomplementary Construction of β-Hydroxyphosphonates.

Taming highly enolizable aldehydes for catalytic asymmetric C-C coupling with nucleophiles remains an elusive challenge compared to widely explored simple alkyl or aryl aldehydes. Herein, we use ThDP-dependent enzymes to realize the direct C-C coupling of highly enolizable 2-phosphonate aldehydes with in situ-generated dynamically reversible nucleophiles (acyl anions). Unlike NHC-mediated reactions that yield complex mixtures of multiple adducts, our enzymatic process selectively produces biologically active β-hydroxy phosphonates with high yields (up to 95%) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).

Regulation of Bone Remodeling by Metal-Phenolic Networks for the Treatment of Systemic Osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a systemic metabolic disease that impairs bone remodeling by favoring osteoclastic resorption over osteoblastic formation. Nanotechnology-based therapeutic strategies focus on the delivery of drug molecules to either decrease bone resorption or increase bone formation rather than regulating the entire bone remodeling process, and osteoporosis interventions suffer from this limitation. Here, we present a multifunctional nanoparticle based on metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) for the treatment of systemic osteoporosis by regulating both osteoclasts and osteoblasts.

Toward Surface Passivation of Black Phosphorus via a Self-Assembled Ferrocene Molecular Layer.

Black phosphorus (BP), a promising two-dimensional material, faces significant challenges for its applications due to its instability in air and water. Herein, molecular dynamics simulations reveal that a self-assembled ferrocene (FeCp) molecular layer can form on BP surfaces and remain stable in aqueous environments, predicting its effectiveness for passivation. This theoretical finding is corroborated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and optical microscopy observations.

Promoter engineering with programmable upstream activating sequences in Aspergillus Niger cell factory.

Background: Aspergillus niger is an important industrial filamentous fungus used to produce organic acids and enzymes. A wide dynamic range of promoters, particularly strong promoters, are required for fine-tuning the regulation of gene expression to balance metabolic flux and achieve the high yields of desired products. However, the limited understanding of promoter architectures and activities restricts the efficient transcription regulation of targets in strain engineering in A.

Bilayer Mn-based Prussian blue cathode with high redox activity for boosting stable cycling in aqueous sodium-ion half/full batteries.

The Mn-based Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) have garnered significant attention due to their high specific capacity, stemming from the unique multi-electron reactions with Na. However, the structural instability caused by multi-ion insertion impacts the cycle life, thus limiting their further application in aqueous sodium-ion batteries (ASIBs). To address this issue, this work employed an in situ epitaxial solvent deposition method to homogeneously grow Ni hexacyanoferrate (NiHCF) on the surface of MnPBA, which can effectively overcome the de-intercalation instability.

Modular Engineering of Lysostaphin with Significantly Improved Stability and Bioavailability for Treating MRSA Infections.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is a refractory pneumonia-causing pathogen due to the antibiotic resistance and the characteristics of persisting inside its host cell. Lysostaphin is a typical bacteriolytic enzyme for degrading bacterial cell walls via hydrolysis of pentaglycine cross-links, showing potential to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, there are still grand challenges for native lysostaphin because of its poor shelf stability and limited bioavailability.

Recent transformations of vinylidene cyclopropanes (VDCPs).

Methodological studies on the transformations of vinylidene cyclopropanes (VDCPs) have been substantially developed in the past few decades, and significant progress has been achieved in visible light-mediated, non-metal-related, and transition metal-catalyzed processes. In particular, when reactive functional groups are introduced into the backbone of VDCPs, a variety of cascade or sequential transformations can take place to produce more complex cyclic or polycyclic compounds. This review describes the recent advancements in this field.

ControllableSynthesis of Heterogeneous ZnS/SnS2 Encapsulated in Hollow Nitrogen-doped Carbon Microcubes as Anode for High-performance Li-ion Capacitors.

Li-ion capacitors (LICs) integrate the desirable features of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and supercapacitors (SCs), but the kinetic imbalance between the both electrodes leads to inferior electrochemical performance. Thus, constructing an advanced anode with outstanding rate capability and terrific redox kinetics is crucial to LICs. Herein, heterostructured ZnS/SnS2 nanosheets encapsulated into N-doped carbon microcubes (ZnS/SnS2@NC) are successfully fabricated.

Proximal Oblique-Packing of Heptamethine Cyanines through Spiro-Connection Boosts Triplet State Generation in Near-Infrared.

Near-infrared (NIR) triplet dyes are the cornerstones of cutting-edge biomedical and material applications. The difficulty in rational development of triplet dyes increases exponentially as the absorption wavelength shifts deeper into the NIR range. Although classical H-/J-typed packing of NIR dyes has the potential to enhance intersystem crossing (ISC) compared with that in single-chromophore dyes, the triplet state quantum yields remain limited in such strategy.

A self-aggregated thermally activated delayed fluorescence nanoprobe for HClO imaging and activatable photodynamic therapy.

Hypochlorous acid (HClO/ClO) is a common ROS that exhibits elevated activity levels in cancer cells. In this study, an ClO-triggered TADF probe, PTZ-MNI, was designed based on a naphthalimide core. PTZ-MNI self-assemble in aqueous environments, exhibiting significantly enhanced fluorescence that demonstrated typical aggregation-induced delayed fluorescence (AIDF) characteristics.

Multi-Scale Pyramid Squeeze Attention Similarity Optimization Classification Neural Network for ERP Detection.

Event-related potentials (ERPs) can reveal brain activity elicited by external stimuli. Innovative methods to decode ERPs could enhance the accuracy of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology and promote the understanding of cognitive processes. This paper proposes a novel Multi-Scale Pyramid Squeeze Attention Similarity Optimization Classification Neural Network (MS-PSA-SOC) for ERP Detection.

Kinetic Control of Self-Assembly Pathway in Dual Dynamic Covalent Polymeric Systems.

Kinetically controlled self-assembly is garnering increasing interest in the field of supramolecular polymers and materials, yet examples involving dynamic covalent exchange remain relatively unexplored. Here we report an unexpected dynamic covalent polymeric system whose aqueous self-assembly pathway is strongly influenced by the kinetics of evaporation of water. The key design is to integrate dual dynamic covalent bonds-including disulfide bonds and boroxine/borate-into a dynamic equilibrium system of monomers, polymers, and materials.

Exploring the synergistic effect of NaOH/NaClO absorbent in a novel wet FGD scrubber to control SOx/NOx emissions.

Escalating SOx and NOx emissions from industrial plants necessitates customized scrubbing solutions to improve removal efficiency and tackle cost limitations in existing wet FGD units. This work investigates the real-time intensified removal pathways via an innovative two-stage countercurrent spray tower configuration strategically integrating NaOH (M) and NaOH/NaClO (M/M) to remove SOx and NOx emissions simultaneously from the industrial stack through a comprehensive parametric study of absorbents concentration, reaction temperature, gas flow rate, liquid to gas ratio (F/F), and absorbent showering head. Flue gas stream comprising SO bearing 4500 ppm, SO bearing 300 ppm, 70 ppm NO, and 50 ppm NO brought into contact with two scrubbing solutions as M, and a complex absorbent of M/M at varying respective ratios.

Copper-catalysed radical cascade reaction of -(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl) substituted 2-pyridones with styrene to access 1,6-carboannulated 2-pyridone scaffolds.

Herein, we present that treating -(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl) substituted 2-pyridones with styrenes in DMSO/HO at 120 °C affords 1,6-carboannulated 2-pyridone scaffolds with up to 79% yield. This protocol provides a simple and efficient method for obtaining complicated bicyclic 2-pyridones through a radical cascade reaction. Additionally, we have successfully synthesized 27 target compounds, which confirms the practicality and wide applicability of the proposed reaction.

Ultramicroporous Tröger's Base Framework Membranes With Ionized Sub-nanochannels for Efficient Acid/Alkali Recovery.

Membrane technology holds significant potential for the recovery of acids and alkalis from industrial wastewater systems, with ion exchange membranes (IEMs) playing a crucial role in these applications. However, conventional IEMs are limited to separating only monovalent cations or anions, presenting a significant challenge in achieving concomitant H⁺/OH⁻ permselectivity for simultaneous acid and alkali recovery. To address this issue, the charged microporous polymer framework membranes are developed, featuring rigid Tröger's Base network chains constructed through a facile sol-gel process.

Advanced Solid Lubrication with COK-47: Mechanistic Insights on the Role of Water and Performance Evaluation.

Metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles have attracted widespread attention as lubrication additives due to their tunable structures and surface effects. However, their solid lubrication properties have been rarely explored. This work introduces the positive role of moisture in solid lubrication in the case of a newly described Ti-based MOF (COK-47) powder.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts in carcinogenesis.

In contemporary times, cancer poses the most significant threat to human life and safety. Scientists have relentlessly pursued the intricacies of carcinogenesis and explored ways to prevent and treat cancer. Carcinogenesis is a complex, multi-faceted, and multi-stage process, with numerous underlying causes, including inflammation and fibrosis.

Preparation of anti-shrinkage branched poly (butylene succinate-co-butylene terephthalate)/cellulose nanocrystal foam with excellent degradability and thermal insulation.

Branched poly (butylene succinate-co-butylene terephthalate) (BPBST) was synthesized by in-situ polycondensation to enhance the foamability of poly (butylene succinate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBST) and was blended with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) to address foam shrinkage. The introduction of 2 wt% CNC increased the crystallization temperature of BPBST from 66.6 °C to 87.

HPTLC-Bioautography-MS-Guided Strategy for the Detection of Phthalides With Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities From Ligusticum chuanxiong Essential Oil.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance and free radical-mediated oxidative stress and inflammation involved in many pathological processes have become treatment challenges. One strategy is to search for antimicrobial and antioxidant ingredients from natural aromatic plants. This study established a rapid and high-throughput effect-component analysis method to screen active ingredients from Ligusticum chuanxiong essential oil (CXEO).

Insight into photocatalytic CO reduction on TiO-supported Cu nanorods: a DFT study on the reaction mechanism and selectivity.

Photoreduction of CO into hydrocarbons is a potential strategy for reducing atmospheric CO and effectively utilizing carbon resources. Cu-deposited TiO photocatalysts stand out in this area due to their good photocatalytic activity and potential methanol selectivity. However, the underlying mechanism and factors controlling product selectivity remain less understood.

Pretargeted Multimodal Tumor Imaging by Enzymatic Self-Immobilization Labeling and Bioorthogonal Reaction.

Covalent modification of cell membranes has shown promise for tumor imaging and therapy. However, existing membrane labeling techniques face challenges such as slow kinetics and poor selectivity for cancer cells, leading to off-target effects and suboptimal efficacy. Here, we present an enzyme-triggered self-immobilization labeling strategy, termed E-SIM, which enables rapid and selective labeling of tumor cell membranes with bioorthogonal trans-cycloctene (TCO) handles .