Malate initiates a proton-sensing pathway essential for pH regulation of inflammation.

Metabolites can double as a signaling modality that initiates physiological adaptations. Metabolism, a chemical language encoding biological information, has been recognized as a powerful principle directing inflammatory responses. Cytosolic pH is a regulator of inflammatory response in macrophages.

Assessing the toxicological impact of PET-MPs exposure on IVDD: Insights from network toxicology and molecular docking.

Polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET-MPs) have emerged as a significant environmental concern due to their persistence and potential health hazards. Their role in degenerative diseases, particularly intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), remains poorly understood, highlighting the need for systematic evaluation of their molecular toxicity. In this study, network toxicology and molecular docking approaches were applied to investigate the toxicological mechanisms of PET-MPs-induced IVDD.

A comprehensive investigation of the impact of cross-linker backbone structure on protein dynamics analysis: A case study with Pin1.

Understanding protein structure is essential for elucidating its function. Cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) has been widely recognized as a powerful tool for analyzing protein complex structures. However, the effect of cross-linker backbone structure on protein dynamic conformation analysis remains less understood.

Successive Reactions of Trimethylgermanium Chloride to Achieve > 26% Efficiency MA-Free Perovskite Solar Cell With 3000-Hour Unattenuated Operation.

The rapidly increased efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) indicates their broad commercial prospects, but the commercialization of perovskite faces complex optimization processes and stability issues. In this work, a simple optimized strategy is developed by the addition of trimethylgermanium chloride (TGC) into FACsPbI precursor solution. TGC triggers the successive interactions in perovskite solution and film, involving the hydrolysis of vulnerable Ge─Cl bond forming Ge─OH group, then forming the hydrogen bonds (O─H···N and O─H···I) with FAI.

Effective integrated thermal management using hygroscopic hydrogel for photovoltaic-thermoelectric applications.

As the proportion of solar energy in the global energy mix increases, photovoltaic cells have emerged as one of the fastest-growing technologies in the renewable energy sector. However, photovoltaics utilize only a limited portion of the incident solar spectrum, resulting in significant amounts of light energy being wasted as heat. This excess heat raises the surface temperature of photovoltaic cells, which in turn reduces their overall efficiency.

Biomimetic high-efficiency fog collector based on fractal spiral structure.

Fog collection provides a promising solution to the freshwater shortage. However, the efficiency of conventional fog collection apparatus is significantly reduced under the complex and variable natural conditions. Furthermore, fog collectors are usually plagued by intricate designs and inadequate durability, resulting in degradation of their structural and surface integrity over time.

Stacking Configurations of Triangular Au and Tetrahedral Au Units in Thiolate-Protected Gold Nanoclusters: Insights into Structural Stability and Growth Mechanisms.

Triangular Au and tetrahedral Au are key structural units in the face-centered cubic gold core of thiolate-protected gold nanoclusters. Understanding their stacking arrangements is essential for elucidating the growth mechanisms of these gold cores. In this study, we design two new isomers of Au(SR) nanoclusters via deliberately adjusting the stacking pattern of Au and Au based on the grand unified model and ring model to show preferable packing arrangements.

Achieving Photocatalytic Overall Nitrogen Fixation via an Enzymatic Pathway on a Distorted CoP4 Configuration.

Photocatalytic nitrogen (N2) fixation over semiconductors has always suffered from poor conversion efficiency owing to weak N2 adsorption and the difficulty of N≡N triple bond dissociation. Herein, a Co single-atom catalyst (SAC) model with a C-defect-evoked CoP4 distorted configuration was fabricated using a selective phosphidation strategy, wherein P-doping and C defects co-regulate the local electronic structure of Co sites. Comprehensive experiments and theoretical calculations revealed that the distorted CoP4 configuration caused a strong charge redistribution between the Co atoms and adjacent C atoms, minimizing their electronegativity difference.

One-Step Process for the Regiodivergent Double Hydrocyanation of 1,3-Butadiene.

In industry, the two important nitrile starting materials, adiponitrile and 2-methylglutaronitrile, are primarily manufactured through the well-known DuPont process, which consists of a tandem sequence including first hydrocyanation, isomerization and second hydrocyanation. However, this mature process has the intrinsic defects of step efficiency and regioselectivity. Herein, we report a nickel-catalyzed divergent, one-step double hydrocyanation of 1,3-butadiene to produce either adiponitrile or 2-methylglutaronitrile in high regioselectivity.

Zeolite Encapsulation to Enhance Interfacial Gas Availability for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Peroxide Production.

The photocatalytic oxidation of water with gaseous oxygen is environmentally benign for the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), but it is currently constrained by the inadequate supply of gaseous oxygen at the catalyst surface in a solid-liquid-gas triple-phase reaction system. Herein, we address this challenge by employing the zeolite encapsulated catalysts that efficiently enrich gaseous oxygen and accelerate the H2O2 synthesis in in aqueous conditions. We focus on the classical titania photocatalyst, encapsulating it within siliceous MFI zeolite crystals.

A 17.73% Solar-to-hydrogen Efficiency with Durably Active Catalyst in Stable Photovoltaic-electrolysis Seawater System.

Developing durably active catalysts to tackle harsh voltage polarization and seawater corrosion is pivotal for efficient solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion, yet remains a challenge. We report a durably active catalyst of NiCr-layered double hydroxide (RuldsNiCr-LDH) with highly exposed Ni-O-Ru units, in which low-loading Ru (0.32 wt%) is locked precisely at defect lattice site (Rulds) by Ni and Cr.

In Situ MXene-Controlled Synthesis of Polycrystalline TiO for Highly Efficient Enrichment of Phosphopeptides.

Phosphopeptide enrichment methods based on commercial TiO suffer from difficulties in regulating intermolecular interactions, resulting in low coverage rate and the loss of information on multiphosphorylation sites, thereby limiting comprehensive phosphoproteomic analysis. In this work, MXene TiCT was incorporated into the design of enrichment materials, with its surface structure functionalized and regulated to address the low elution efficiency of TiO for multiphosphorylated peptides. Upon oxidation treatment, the TiCT material formed numerous uniformly distributed TiO nanoparticles on the surface of TiCT-O, providing abundant affinity sites (Ti-O) for selective phosphopeptide enrichment.

Polymer Brush-Functionalized MoS as a Water-Based Lubricant Additive.

Water-based lubricants have the advantages of low cost, easy cleaning, and environmental friendliness, and are suitable for various lubrication applications. However, the limited tribological properties of pure water-based lubricants restrict their use. To improve these properties, water-based lubrication additives can be employed.

Renal Clearable Chiral Manganese Oxide Supraparticles for In Vivo Detection of Metalloproteinase-9 in Early Cancer Diagnosis.

In this study, polypeptide TGGGPLGVARGKGGC-induced chiral manganese dioxide supraparticles (MnO SPs) are prepared for sensitive quantification of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in vitro and in vivo. The results show that L-type manganese dioxide supraparticles (L-MnO SPs) exhibited twice the affinity for the cancer cell membrane receptor CD47 (cluster of differentiation, integrin-associated protein) than D-type manganese dioxide supraparticles (D-MnO SPs) to accumulate at the tumor site after surface modification of the internalizing arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (iRGD) ligand, specifically reacting with the MMP-9, disassembling into ultrasmall nanoparticles (NPs), and efficiently underwent renal clearance. Furthermore, L-MnO facilitates the quantification of MMP-9 in mouse tumor xenografts, as demonstrated by circular dichroism (CD) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 2 h.

Interfacial hydrogen bonds induced by porous FeCr bimetallic atomic sites for efficient oxygen reduction reaction.

Interfacial hydrogen bonds are pivotal in enhancing proton activity and accelerating the kinetics of proton-coupled electron transfer during electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here we propose a novel FeCr bimetallic atomic sites catalyst supported on a honeycomb-like porous carbon layer, designed to optimize the microenvironment for efficient electrocatalytic ORR through the induction of interfacial hydrogen bonds. Characterizations, including X-ray absorption spectroscopy and in situ infrared spectroscopy, disclose the rearrangement of delocalized electrons due to the formation of FeCr sites, which facilitates the dissociation of interfacial water molecules and the subsequent formation of hydrogen bonds.

Molecular dynamics study on the nanofriction and wear mechanism of transverse grain boundaries in nickel-based alloys.

Context: This study employs molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the nanoscale tribological behavior of a single transverse grain boundary in a nickel-based polycrystalline alloy. A series of simulations were conducted using a repetitive rotational friction method to explore the mechanisms by which different grain boundary positions influence variations in wear depth, friction force, friction coefficient, dislocation, stress, and internal damage during repeated friction processes. The results reveal that the grain boundary structure enhances the strength of the nanoscale nickel-based polycrystalline alloy.

Real-Time Detection of Dynamic Restructuring in KNiFe F Perovskite Fluorides for Enhanced Water Oxidation.

Mechanistic understanding of how electrode-electrolyte interfaces evolve dynamically is crucial for advancing water-electrolysis technology, especially the restructuring of catalyst surface during complex electrocatalytic reactions. However, for perovskite fluorides, the mechanistic exploration for the influence of the dynamic restructuring on their chemical property and catalytic mechanism is unclear due to their poor conductivity that makes the definition of electrocatalyst structure difficult. Herein, for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), various operando characterizations are employed to investigate the structure-activity relationships of the KNiFe F@NF.

Controllable Active Intermediate in CO Hydrogenation Enabling Highly Selective ,-Dimethylformamide Synthesis via -Formylation.

,-Dimethylformamide (DMF) is a widely used solvent, and its green and low-carbon synthesis methods are in high demand. Herein, we report a new approach for DMF synthesis using a continuous flow reaction system with a fixed-bed reactor and a ZnO-TiO solid solution catalyst. This catalyst effectively utilizes CO, H, and dimethylamine (DMA) as feedstocks, demonstrating performance with 99% DMF selectivity and single-pass DMA conversion approaching thermodynamic equilibrium.

A flexible, water anchoring, and colorimetric ionogel for sweat monitoring.

As water-saturated polymer networks, the easy water loss of hydrogels directly affects their end-use applications. Minimizing the ratio of free water and increasing the ratio of bound water in the gel system has become key to extending the service life. In this work, an ionogel is prepared that effectively regulates the proportion of free water and bound water through the formation of wrinkle angles by the hydrophilic and hydrophobic chains in the gel system and the non-volatile nature of the ionic liquid.

Perspective of Tribological Mechanisms for α-Alkene Molecules with Different Chain Lengths from Interface Behavior.

Three α-alkene lubricants, differentiated by chain length, were selected as model compounds to investigate the influence of chain length on tribological properties. The novelty of this study lies in setting chain length as the sole variable to explore its impact on surface and adsorption energy. Based on the above findings, the study provides a unique explanation of the intrinsic relationship between chain length and tribological performance.

Regulating Strain and Suppressing Defect States Through Polymer Ionization and Chemical Chelation for Efficient Inverted Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells.

Flexible perovskite solar cells (FPSCs) have great promise for applications in wearable technology and space photovoltaics. However, the unpredictable crystallization of perovskite on flexible substrates results in significantly lower efficiency and mechanical durability than industry standards. A strategy is investigated employing the polymer electrolyte poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) to regulate crystallization and passivate defect states in perovskite films on flexible substrates.

Enantioselective α-C(sp)-H Borylation of Masked Primary Alcohols Enabled by Iridium Catalysis.

Functional group-directed site- and enantioselective C(sp)-H functionalization of alcohols or masked alcohols represents a formidable challenge. We herein report the first example of iridium-catalyzed asymmetric α-C(sp)-H borylation of primary alcohol-derived carbamates by the judicious choice of directing groups. A variety of chiral borylated carbamates were obtained with good to high enantioselectivities.

Lithocholic acid binds TULP3 to activate sirtuins and AMPK to slow down ageing.

Lithocholic acid (LCA) is accumulated in mammals during calorie restriction and it can activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to slow down ageing. However, the molecular details of how LCA activates AMPK and induces these biological effects are unclear. Here we show that LCA enhances the activity of sirtuins to deacetylate and subsequently inhibit vacuolar H-ATPase (v-ATPase), which leads to AMPK activation through the lysosomal glucose-sensing pathway.