Perspectives on adhesion and irreversible fouling to delineate mitigation effects of autoinducer-2 mediated quorum quenching on biofouling.

This study systematically investigated the effect of interfering with autoinducer-2 (AI-2) signaling system on controlling initial fouling attachment and irreversible components. Exposure of bacteria to the inhibitor significantly reduced the expression of the luxS gene, which resulted in a 37.3% reduction of AI-2 signaling molecule synthesis.

Mechanisms and Origins of Regioselectivity in Rare-Earth-Catalyzed C-H Functionalization of Anisoles and Thioanisoles.

The direct catalytic C-H functionalization of aromatic compounds such as anisoles and thioanisoles is of great interest and significance. However, achieving precise regioselectivity remains a major challenge. In this study, we conducted comprehensive density functional theory calculations to explore the mechanisms of rare-earth-catalyzed regioselective C-H alkylation, borylation, and silylation of anisole and thioanisole.

Diphosphine-induced morphological modification in Au nanoclusters and its implications for catalytic activity regulation.

Diphosphine-induced structural transformation was performed to modify the local structure of Au, leading to the formation of an Au nanocluster. The regular box-like morphology of Au is converted into a sharp shape for Au. This change in morphology results in the activity enhancement of Au in the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B.

Simultaneous AoLP and DoLP Detection in a Bias-Switchable PdSe/MoS/PdSe Heterojunction for Polarization Discrimination.

On-chip polarized photodetectors play a crucial role in advancing ultra-compact optoelectronic devices for next-generation technologies. However, simultaneously detecting the angle of linear polarization (AoLP) and the degree of linear polarization (DoLP) within a single device remains a challenging task, particularly due to the inherently weak polarization states found in naturally anisotropic materials. In this paper, it is reported on the development of a twisted monopole barrier photodetector based on a PdSe/MoS/PdSe configuration.

Remolding the Interface Stability for Practical Aqueous Zn/I Batteries via Sulfonic Acid-Rich Electrolyte and Separator Design.

The electrolyte-electrode interface plays a crucial role in aqueous Zn/I battery and is largely determined by the properties of electrolyte and separator. Here, the synergistic effect of sulfonic acid-rich electrolyte additive and separator impacts the interface stability of Zn/I batteries is comprehensively investigated using operando synchrotron-based Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, cryo-electron microscopy, and in situ spectroscopy. As a case study, a cost-effective additive known as lignosulfonic acid sodium (LAS) and a flexible sulfonated polyether sulfone membrane are employed to facilitate the formation of a stable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on the Zn anode and effectively suppress the shuttle effect.

DRExplainer: Quantifiable interpretability in drug response prediction with directed graph convolutional network.

Predicting the response of a cancer cell line to a therapeutic drug is pivotal for personalized medicine. Despite numerous deep learning methods that have been developed for drug response prediction, integrating diverse information about biological entities and predicting the directional response remain major challenges. Here, we propose a novel interpretable predictive model, DRExplainer, which leverages a directed graph convolutional network to enhance the prediction in a directed bipartite network framework.

Modifying the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction via Disruption of Ordered Intercalation in a van der Waals Magnet.

The intercalation of magnetic atoms into van der Waals (vdW) gaps offers a unique opportunity to manipulate the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) and magnetic structures by modifying the local atomic structures in vdW magnets. Herein, a new strategy is proposed for modifying DMI by disrupting the atomic-scale order within the Cr sublattice of Cr-intercalated 2H-TaS, i.e.

Enhanced Photoluminescence Emission and Thermal Stability in Pt1Ag31 nanocluster from Introduced Secondary Phosphine Oxide Functionalized ligand.

Surface ligands significantly influence the optical properties and stability of metal nanoclusters. In this study, we synthesized [Pt1Ag31(S-Adm)16(DPPM)3(DPPMO)Cl3](SbF6)4 (Pt1Ag31-DPPMO). Compared to [Pt1Ag31(S-Adm)16(DPPM)3Cl3](SbF6)4 (Pt1Ag31), the introduction of secondary phosphine oxide ligand, DPPMO, results in Pt1Ag31-DPPMO exhibiting enhanced photoluminescent properties in both solution and solid states, as well as improved stability and electron-withdrawing ability.

ZNF451 collaborates with RNF8 to regulate RNF168 localization and amplify ubiquitination signaling to promote DNA damage repair and regulate radiosensitivity.

The ubiquitination of histone H2A/H2AX, catalyzed by RNF8/RNF168, is a crucial step in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), playing a significant role in transmitting and amplifying DNA damage response signals. However, the upstream regulatory mechanisms of RNF168 remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that ZNF451 catalyzes the SUMOylation of RNF168, thereby regulating the ubiquitination of histone H2A/H2AX.

Lattice-Confined Ru Electrocatalysts with Optimal Localized Interfacial Electrons for Efficient Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation.

The interfacial electronic structure has a significant influence on the electrocatalytic activity and durability of metal oxide-supported ruthenium (Ru) electrocatalysts for the alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). Herein, we optimize the interfacial electronic structure by tuning the Ru-O bonds within MnO lattice-confined Ru electrocatalysts, creating efficient and stable sites for alkaline HOR. The formed Ru-O bonds generate localized interfacial electrons and a downshifted d-band center of interfacial Ru atoms, which results in optimal adsorption ability of H* and OH* together with the reduced energy barrier of HO formation.

Comparison of the polluted dust plume and natural dust air mass in a spring dust event in Beijing 2023.

The occurrence of extreme weather events is becoming more frequent due to global climate change. A long-lasting dust outbreak in the spring of 2023 was triggered by Mongolia cyclones and cold fronts in the dust source areas. In this study, we illustrate the spatial distribution, the transport path of the dust and its influence on the air quality of downstream cities utilizing ground-based and space-borne measurements.

Regulating the electrocatalytic active centers for accelerated proton transfer towards efficient CO reduction.

The electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR) is an important application that can considerably mitigate environmental and energy crises. However, the slow proton-coupled electron transfer process continues to limit overall catalytic performance. Fine-tuning the reaction microenvironment by accurately constructing the local structure of catalysts provides a novel approach to enhancing reaction kinetics.

Artificially Creating Emergent Interfacial Antiferromagnetism and Its Manipulation in a Magnetic van der Waals Heterostructure.

van der Waals (vdW) magnets, with their two-dimensional (2D) atomic structures, provide a unique platform for exploring magnetism on the nanoscale. Although there have been numerous reports on their diverse quantum properties, the emergent interfacial magnetism─artificially created at the interface between two layered magnets─remains largely unexplored. This work presents observations of such emergent interfacial magnetism at the ferromagnet-antiferromagnet interface in a vdW heterostructure.

Optimization of l-Fucose Biosynthesis in through Pathway Engineering and Mixed Carbon Source Strategy.

This study presents an engineered strain of specifically designed to enhance the production of l-fucose while minimizing residues of 2'-fucosyllactose. The optimization strategies employed include the selection of key enzymes, optimization of gene copy numbers, and fermentation using mixed carbon sources. The metabolic flux was directed toward l-fucose synthesis by integrating preferred 1,2-fucosyltransferase and α-l-fucosidase into the genome.

Redox imbalance drives magnetic property and function changes in mice.

The magnetic properties of substances directly determine their response to an externally applied magnetic field, which are closely associated with magnetoreception, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic bioeffects. However, people's understanding of the magnetic properties of living organisms remains limited. In this study, we utilized NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) deficient mice to investigate the contribution of redox (oxidation-reduction) homeostasis, in which the key process is the transfer of electron, a direct target of magnetic field and origin of paramagnetism.

PRMT7 Inhibitor SGC3027 Enhances Radiotherapy Efficacy via Activating ATM Kinase in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of tumor-related death in humans. Radiotherapy is a crucial strategy for NSCLC treatment, although its effectiveness is limited by the radio-resistance of tumor cells. Our current research finds that the protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7) is upregulated in NSCLC and correlates with poor prognosis.

Static magnetic fields alleviate diabetic nephropathy by reducing renal cell inflammation and promoting M2 macrophage polarization.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most severe diabetic complications, which can easily progress into irreversible and detrimental end-stage renal disease if not properly controlled. However, the effective prevention of DN progression has always remained a huge challenge. Moderate intensity static magnetic fields (SMFs), which have the advantages of non-invasive and high penetration, have shown beneficial effects in reducing blood glucose in type 2 diabetes mice in recent years.

Enantioselective Multicomponent Electrochemical Difunctionalization of Terminal Alkynes.

The direct functionalization of alkyne triple bonds using a radical strategy provides an efficient platform for creating a wide range of substituted alkenes. However, developing a multicomponent enantioselective radical reaction using feedstock alkynes to forge all-carbon quaternary stereocenters─while addressing challenges related to compatibility, selectivity, and efficiency─remains relatively rare. Here we report an enantioselective electrochemical nickel-catalyzed three-component cross-coupling of readily available terminal alkynes, diverse racemic alkyl radical precursors, and group transfer reagents (such as (TMS)Si-H, RSe-SeR, RTe-TeR, and CHI), achieving excellent regio-, stereo-, and enantioselectivities (more than 70 examples, up to 95% ee).

Biomimetic Square Pyramidal N-Fe-N Single Sites with Optimized Electron Distribution for the Efficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

Single atom iron-nitrogen-carbon (Fe-N-C) catalysts with a planar Fe─N structure are widely investigated as potential alternatives to platinum-based materials for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), while they still suffer from the imperfect adsorption and activation of reaction intermediates, limiting their reduction efficiency. Herein, a Fe single-atom catalyst with a biomimetic square pyramidal N-Fe-N site supported by honeycomb-like porous carbon (SA-FeN/HPC) is successfully prepared by a supramolecular confinement-pyrolysis strategy. Theoretical calculations unveil that the introduction of spatially axial N ligands effectively regulates the charge redistribution around the planar Fe─N active centers and confers Fe active moieties with appropriate adsorption strength for intermediates, thereby resulting in accelerated ORR kinetics.

Vinylogous Anionic Ring-Opening Polymerization of Vinylidenecyclopropanes with Native C-H Bonds as the Dormant Species.

Since its inception in 2023, the concept of "C-H bonds as the dormant species" to control chain growth has emerged as a promising, though still evolving, strategy for precision polymer synthesis. Beyond offering a simpler polymerization method, this concept is expected to promote unprecedented reaction pathways. In this study, we report the first vinylogous anionic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of vinylidenecyclopropanes.

Facilitating alkaline hydrogen evolution kinetics via interfacial modulation of hydrogen-bond networks by porous amine cages.

The electrode-electrolyte interface is pivotal in the electrochemical kinetics. However, modulating the electrochemical interface at the atomic or molecular level is challenging due to the lack of efficient interfacial regulators. Here, we employ a porous amine cage as an interfacial modifier to Pt cluster in a confining configuration, largely enhancing alkaline HER kinetics by facilitating charge transfer.

Shipborne lidar measurements of ozone over the southeastern coastal regions of China in winter.

Ozone observations over oceanic areas remain inadequate or even non-existent in some areas, thus preventing the effective mitigation of the regional O pollution problem. Shipborne lidar measurements were conducted to investigate the distribution and transport of ozone over the southeastern coastal regions of China during the winter of 2024. The measurements were performed along the southeast coast of China from Zhejiang (ZJ) to Hong Kong (HK).

Regulation of surface-bound radicals enhanced Fenton-like activities via radicals confined on FeO/MXenes.

The low yield and efficiency of surface-bound radicals seriously affect the Fenton-like activity of the catalyst. In this study, novel FeO/MXenes (VC and TiC) composites are designed for structural domain regulation of surface-bound radicals. The MXenes with multilayer structure enhance the adsorption energy and electron transfer of the FeO/peroxodisulfate (PDS) system.

Direct Synthesis of Polar-Functionalized Polyolefin Elastomers.

Polyolefin elastomers (POEs) are widely used for many applications including plastic toughening and encapsulating photovoltaic modules. The introduction of polar groups into POEs improves their compatibility and adhesion with polar components, but it is challenging to prepare high-molecular-weight polar-functionalized POEs (P-POEs) via copolymerization. Here, we report a silane protection strategy to enable the production of P-POEs (including an ethylene-based P-POE and a propylene-based P-POE) with widely tunable 1-octene incorporation ratios (7.

Engineering Helical Chirality in Metal-Coordinated Cyclodextrin Nanochannels.

Helicates are a defining element of DNAs and proteins, with functions that are critical to a variety of biological processes. Cyclodextrins are promising candidates for forging multiple-stranded helicates with well-defined helicity, but a lack of available tools has precluded the construction of artificial helical nanochannels with a controllable geometry and helicity from these widely available chiral building blocks. Herein, we disclose a family of AgL helical nanochannels that can be readily assembled from α-cyclodextrin-derived ligands through coordination between pyridinyl groups and Ag cations.