zIncubascope: Long-term quantitative imaging of multi-cellular assemblies inside an incubator.

Recent advances in bioengineering have made it possible to develop increasingly complex biological systems to recapitulate organ functions as closely as possible in vitro. Monitoring the assembly and growth of multi-cellular aggregates, micro-tissues or organoids and extracting quantitative information is a crucial but challenging task required to decipher the underlying morphogenetic mechanisms. We present here an imaging platform designed to be accommodated inside an incubator which provides high-throughput monitoring of cell assemblies over days and weeks.

Regional and institutional trends in assessment for academic promotion.

The assessment of research performance is widely seen as a vital tool in upholding the highest standards of quality, with selection and competition believed to drive progress. Academic institutions need to take critical decisions on hiring and promotion, while facing external pressure by also being subject to research assessment. Here we present an outlook on research assessment for career progression with specific focus on promotion to full professorship, based on 314 policies from 190 academic institutions and 218 policies from 58 government agencies, covering 32 countries in the Global North and 89 countries in the Global South.

Impact of Ligand Structure on Biological Activity and Photophysical Properties of NHC-Protected Au Nanoclusters.

N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-protected gold nanoclusters display high stability and high photoluminescence, making them well-suited for fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapeutic applications. We report herein the synthesis of two bisNHC-protected Au nanoclusters with π-extended aromatic systems. Depending on the position of the π-extended aromatic system, changes to the structure of the ligand shell in the cluster are observed, with the ability to correlate increases in rigidity with increases in fluorescence quantum yield.

Diving into Unknown Waters: Water-Soluble Clickable Au Nanoclusters Protected with N-Heterocyclic Carbenes for Bio-Medical Applications.

The use of gold nanoclusters in biomedical applications has been steadily increasing in recent years. However, water solubility is a key factor for these applications, and water-soluble gold nanoclusters are often difficult to isolate and susceptible to exchange or oxidation in vivo. Herein, we report the isolation of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-protected atomically precise gold nanoclusters functionalized with triethylene glycol monomethyl ether groups.

pH-Triggered Phase Transitions, Coexposure of (001) and (110) Facets, and Oxygen Vacancies in BiOCl Photocatalysts.

Bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) is known for its unique layered microstructure, which plays a pivotal role in enhancing its photocatalytic properties. This study introduces a novel strategy for controlling the phase composition, facet orientation, and oxygen vacancy formation in BiOCl through precise pH adjustment during the synthesis. By employing a hydrothermal method, we systematically varied the pH to produce distinct BiOCl phases and conducted detailed structural and photocatalytic analyses.

Environmental controls on the conversion of nutrients to chlorophyll in lakes.

Anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus to lakes have increased worldwide, causing phytoplankton chlorophyll concentrations to increase at many sites, with negative implications for biodiversity and human usage of lake resources. However, the conversion of nutrients to chlorophyll varies among lakes, hindering effective management actions to improve water quality. Here, using a rich global dataset, we explore how the relationship between chlorophyll-a (Chla) and nitrogen and phosphorus and inferred nutrient limitation is modified by climate, catchment, hydrology and lake characteristics.

Predicting Chlorophyll- Concentrations in the World's Largest Lakes Using Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks.

Accurate prediction of chlorophyll- (Chl-) concentrations, a key indicator of eutrophication, is essential for the sustainable management of lake ecosystems. This study evaluated the performance of Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (KANs) along with three neural network models (MLP-NN, LSTM, and GRU) and three traditional machine learning tools (RF, SVR, and GPR) for predicting time-series Chl- concentrations in large lakes. Monthly remote-sensed Chl- data derived from Aqua-MODIS spanning September 2002 to April 2024 were used.

Identification of Bioactive Compounds from the Roots of and Their In Silico and In Vitro AMPK Activation Potential.

Libosch., which belongs to the Orobanchaceae family, is a perennial herb found in China, Japan, and Korea. In traditional medicine, it is used to cool the body, improve water metabolism in the kidney, and provide protection from metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity.

Age-associated interplay between zinc deficiency and Golgi stress hinders microtubule-dependent cellular signaling and epigenetic control.

Golgi abnormalities have been linked to aging and age-related diseases, yet the underlying causes and functional consequences remain poorly understood. This study identifies the interaction between age-associated zinc deficiency and Golgi stress as a critical factor in cellular aging. Senescent Golgi bodies from human fibroblasts show a fragmented Golgi structure, associated with a decreased interaction of the zinc-dependent Golgi-stacking protein complex Golgin45-GRASP55.

Mitigating Zinc Dendrite Formation and Parasitic Side Reactions in Aqueous Zn-Ion Batteries Via Laser-Assisted Carbonization of Cu-PANI Films on Zn Anodes.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are gaining attraction for large-scale energy storage systems due to their high safety, significant capacity, cost-effectiveness, and environmental friendliness. On the other hand, the development of aqueous ZIBs is restricted by the limited practical application of zinc (Zn) because of the high reactivity of Zn in aqueous electrolytes, which results in the severe dendrite growth and parasitic side reactions such as hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In this study, heteroatom-doped carbon porous surface modification by laser-assisted carbonization of copper (Cu) doped polyaniline (PANI) is designed and fabricated on top of the Zn metal anode (c-Cu-PANI/Zn).

Daily river flow simulation using ensemble disjoint aggregating M5-Prime model.

Accurate prediction of daily river flow ( ) remains a challenging yet essential task in hydrological modeling, particularly crucial for flood mitigation and water resource management. This study introduces an advanced M5 Prime (M5P) predictive model designed to estimate as well as one- and two-day-ahead river flow forecasts (i.e.

Emission engineering in microdisk lasers via direct integration of meta-micromirrors.

Despite their excellent performance and versatility, the efficient integration of small lasers with other optical devices has long been hindered by their broad emission divergence. In this study, we introduce a novel approach for emission engineering in microdisk lasers, significantly enhancing their vertical emission output by directly integrating specially designed reflective metalenses, referred to as "meta-micromirrors". A 5 μm-diameter microdisk laser is precisely positioned at an 8 μm focal distance on a 30 × 30 μm meta-micromirror featuring a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.

Exploring distinct modes of inter-spike cross-linking for enhanced neutralization by SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its Omicron subvariants drastically amplifies transmissibility, infectivity, and immune escape, mainly due to their resistance to most neutralizing antibodies. Thus, exploring the mechanisms underlying antibody evasion is crucial. Although the full-length native form of antibody, immunoglobulin G (IgG), offers valuable insights into the neutralization, structural investigations primarily focus on the fragment of antigen-binding (Fab).

Wireless Modular Implantable Neural Device with One-touch Magnetic Assembly for Versatile Neuromodulation.

Multimodal neural interfaces open new opportunities in brain research by enabling more sophisticated and systematic neural circuit dissection. Integrating complementary features across distinct functional domains, these multifunctional neural probes have greatly advanced the interrogation of complex neural circuitry. However, introducing multiple functionalities into a compact form factor for freely behaving animals presents substantial design hurdles that complicate the device or require more than one device.

Advancements in nanobiosensor technologies for in-vitro diagnostics to point of care testing.

Recently, the importance of rapid testing nanosensor technologies for in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) and point-of-care testing (POCT) is being increasingly recognized. Owing to their high sensitivity and rapidity, nanosensor-based diagnostic devices are evolving into self-diagnostic tools that enable real-time in-situ analyses. These advances have become the focus of the public health control system, not only to prevent the spread of infectious diseases but also to enable the early detection of critical diseases through continuous health monitoring technologies.

Triphenylamine-Based Conjugated Microporous Polymers as the Next Generation Organic Cathode Materials.

This paper presents a study on a novel porous polymer based on triphenylamine (LPCMP) as an excellent cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. Through structural design and a scalable post-synthesis approach, improvements in intrinsic conductivity, practical capacity, and redox potential in an organic cathode material is reported. The designed cathode achieves a notable capacity of 146 mAh g⁻¹ with an average potential of 3.

Development of green synthesised AgNPs decorated on MWCNT modified guar gum-based self-healing hydrogel for strain sensors.

Flexible conductive hydrogel strain sensors are gaining popularity due to their exceptional stretchability, sensitivity, and potential for wearable devices. However, their widespread use is hindered by significant issues, such as poor electrical conductivity and weak response time. To address these challenges, new hydrogels based on guar gum, borax, and glycerol have been fabricated via a green synthesis technique.

Advanced Nanotechnology-Based Nucleic Acid Medicines.

Nucleic acid medicines are a highly attractive modality that act in a sequence-specific manner on target molecules. To date, 21 such products have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. However, the development of nucleic acid medicines continues to face various challenges, including tissue and cell targeting as well as intracellular delivery.

Spin transport of a doped Mott insulator in moiré heterostructures.

Moiré superlattices of semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenide heterobilayers are model systems for investigating strongly correlated electronic phenomena. Specifically, WSe/WS moiré superlattices have emerged as a quantum simulator for the two-dimensional extended Hubbard model. Experimental studies of charge transport have revealed correlated Mott insulator and generalized Wigner crystal states, but spin transport of the moiré heterostructure has not yet been sufficiently explored.

New Styryl 1,3,4-Oxadiazol-Based Fluorometric "Turn on" pH Sensor.

A new 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivative (MeO-SODA) was synthesized, fully characterized by means of IR, NMR and HRMS data and and additionally, its ability to detect extremely acidic pH values ​​was examined. Firstly, the characteristic behavior of MeO-SODA was examined in ten different solvents, revealing that it underwent non-radiative transitions as the hydrogen bonding capacity of solvent increased. Secondly, the absorption and fluorescence measurements for MeO-SODA were conducted across various pH levels (pH 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12), with fluorescence emission observed exclusively at pH 2.

Real-Time In Situ Tracking of the Penetration and Uptake Behavior of Nano-pesticides in Tea Plants Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

In situ monitoring of the uptake and transportation process of nano-pesticides during crop growth remains challenging thus far. In this report, the different three sizes of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy probes of nano-pesticides loaded with ferbam and acetamiprid are representative non-systemic or systemic pesticides, respectively. The probes were verified to have strong signals of the Raman spectrum enhancement effect.

Probe Capture Enrichment Sequencing of amoA Genes Improves the Detection of Diverse Ammonia-Oxidising Archaeal and Bacterial Populations.

The ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) gene has been used to investigate the phylogenetic diversity, spatial distribution and activity of ammonia-oxidising archaeal (AOA) and bacterial (AOB), which contribute significantly to the nitrogen cycle in various ecosystems. Amplicon sequencing of amoA is a widely used method; however, it produces inaccurate results owing to the lack of a 'universal' primer set. Moreover, currently available primer sets suffer from amplification biases, which can lead to severe misinterpretation.

Nanoarchitectonics for structural tailoring of yolk-shell architectures for electrochemical applications.

Developing electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems, such as capacitors, batteries, and fuel cells is crucial to address rapidly growing global energy demands and environmental concerns for a sustainable society. Significant efforts have been devoted to the structural design and engineering of various electrode materials to improve economic applicability and electrochemical performance. The yolk-shell structures represent a special kind of core-shell morphologies, which show great application potential in energy storage, controlled delivery, adsorption, nanoreactors, sensing, and catalysis.