A cell-based exploration of environmental and health impacts of food waste digestate for its sustainable reutilization.

Anaerobic digestion of food waste is increasingly utilized for bioenergy generation, producing a byproduct known as food waste digestate (FWD), which has potential applications as a fertilizer within the circular economy. However, accumulating numerous pollutants in FWD poses significant challenges to environmental management and human health. The complex nature of these pollutants complicates both targeted and non-targeted chemical analyses, making safety evaluations difficult.

Integrating river transport processes and seasonal dynamics to assess watershed nitrogen export risk.

Excessive nitrogen exported to water bodies affects the balance of ecosystem and poses a threat to human health. Although the concept of water purification service helps quantify nitrogen export, the impact of river transport remains unclear. This study focused on nitrogen as a pollutant by utilizing the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model to assess nitrogen export in the Dongting Lake Basin, taking into account both the processes of sub-basin nitrogen export and river transport.

The catalytic role of Cr(VI) in promoting the degradation of organic pollutants via TiO/SnO/BiVO photoelectrocatalysis: As an electron transfer carrier.

Regarding the coexistence of heavy metals and organic pollutants, many studies have achieved synergistic removal of Cr(VI) and organic pollutants under acidic conditions. However, the role of Cr(VI) in the removal of organic pollutants under neutral conditions may have been overlooked. Here, the catalytic effect of Cr(VI) in promoting the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants was investigated using a ternary system, which was a combination of photocatalysis, electrocatalysis and Cr(VI) catalysis.

Climate, plant and microorganisms jointly influence soil organic matter fractions in temperate grasslands.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a critical role in mitigating climate change. Conceptualizing SOC into particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) helps us more accurately predict the responses of organic carbon, with varying chemical composition, molecular size, and degree of association with soil minerals, to environmental changes. To assess the controlling factors of particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), plant and soil samples were collected from 54 temperate grassland sites in Northern China, and the impacts of climate, plants, soil properties and microorganisms on POC and MAOC contents were analyzed.

UV/Ozone-Induced Interface Engineering for High-Performance Horizontal Organic Light-Emitting Transistors Operating at Low Voltage.

Multifunctional organic light-emitting transistors (OLETs), which combine electric-switching and light-producing capabilities into a single device, are attracting increasing interest as promising candidates for new-generation display technology. Despite advancements in the design of organic luminescent materials and the optimization of device geometry configurations, maintaining operating voltage low while enhancing optical performances remains a key challenge in horizontally structured OLETs. Here, a simple and effective interfacial engineering strategy is employed to improve the optical properties of horizontal OLETs operating at low voltage, by introducing ultraviolet ozone (UVO)-induced surface modification on high-k dielectrics.

Structure-Based Screening and Optimization of PafA Inhibitors with Potent Anti-Tuberculosis Activity.

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by (), remains a major global health challenge, primarily due to the increasing prevalence of drug resistance. Consequently, the development of drugs with novel modes of action (MOAs) is urgently required. In this study, we discovered and characterized two potent inhibitors, Pi-1-58 and Pi-2-26, targeting the prokaryotic ubiquitin-like protein (Pup) ligase PafA of .

Toward Rhenium-based Circularly Polarized OLEDs Using Tailored Chiral Re(CO)3 Emitters.

Chiral rhenium(I) emitters showing circularly polarized phosphorescence (CPP) are an attractive mainstay for CP organic light-emitting diodes (CP-OLEDs). However, the efficiency of such  emitters is not ideal, and they have never been explored for circularly polarized electroluminescence (CPEL) applications. Here, we have tailored robust chiral Re(I) complexes with improved CPP properties, and firstly  demonstrated CPEL from rhenium emitters.

Genetic Incorporation of a Thioxanthone-Containing Amino Acid for the Design of Artificial Photoenzymes.

Genetically encodable photosensitizers allows for the design of artificial photoenzymes to expand the scope of abiological reactions. Here, we report the genetic incorporation of a thioxanthone-containing amino acid into a protein scaffold using an engineered pyrrolysyl-tRNA/pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase pair. The designer enzyme was engineered to catalyze a dearomative [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction in high yields (up to > 99% yield) with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 98:2 e.

Computational simulation of bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of antibiotics mechanisms in aquatic food chain.

Numerous antibiotics have been detected in aquatic ecosystems and induced severe toxic effects on aquatic organisms. However, mechanisms of bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of antibiotics are not adequately discussed, to the best of our knowledge. In this context, the bidirectional selective effect values (BSEV) and trophic transfer efficiency ratio (TTER) of 24 antibiotics in a simulated food chain (Chlorella sorokiniana-Daphnia magna-Danio rerio) were first calculated to mirror the bioaccumulation and biomagnification.

Role of bio-chemical scale interactions in the Co-landfill of municipal solid waste and bottom ash.

Co-landfill of municipal solid waste (MSW) and bottom ash (BA) has accelerated the scaling of the leachate collection systems (LCS). The matrix of biofilm formation and mineral deposition makes the scaling process in LCS more complicated. However, the fate of metals released from BA and the role of microorganisms in the leachate, which determine the chemical and biological scaling, are not well understood; the scale adsorption ability is little discussed.

Potentiating CAR-T-cell function in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by inverting the TGF-β signal.

The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment represents a key challenge for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in solid tumors and includes the production of the inhibitory cytokine transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), which limits CAR-T-cell persistence and function. Current strategies involving the blockade of TGF-β signaling have little benefit for solid tumor treatment. Here, we demonstrate a novel inverted cytokine receptor (ICR)-modified CAR-T-cell strategy not only TGF-β signal blockade but also antitumor efficacy enhancement.

Operando Evolution of a Hybrid Metallic Alloy Interphase for Reversible Aqueous Zinc Batteries.

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) are widely acknowledged as viable future energy storage solutions, particularly for low-cost stationary applications. However, the interfacial instability of zinc anodes represents a major challenge to the commercial potential of Zn-ion systems, promoting an array of side reactions including spontaneous corrosion, hydrogen evolution, and dendrite growth that destabilize cell performance, lower Coulombic efficiency (CE) and ultimately lead to early cell failure. While other commercially relevant battery systems benefit from a spontaneously forming solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), no such layer forms in AZIBs.

Visible-Light-Enabled Catalytic Intramolecular Double Oxidation of Olefins to -Hydroxylactones.

We have effectively utilized cost-effective 2-bromoanthraquinone as a photocatalyst to develop an efficient and environmentally friendly method for producing -hydroxy lactones under mild visible light irradiation. Importantly, this protocol only relies on oxygen as an oxidant, completely eliminating the need for additional chemical reagents and showcasing a sustainable approach to chemical transformation. Operating at room temperature, we utilized a mixed solvent system of DMF and CHCl, which greatly facilitated the selective conversion of various 2-vinylbenzoic acids and carboxylic acids to functional -hydroxyl lactones.

Novel Thermoplastic Polyurethanes Enable Biaxially Stretchable Conductor for Supercapacitors with High Areal Capacitance.

Stretchable supercapacitors are essential components in wearable electronics due to their low heat generation and seamless integration capabilities. Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers, recognized for their dynamic hydrogen-bonding structure, exhibit excellent stretchability, making them well-suited for these applications. This study introduces fluorine-based interactions in the hard segments of thermoplastic polyurethanes, resulting in polyurethanes with a low elastic modulus, high fracture strength, exceptional fatigue resistance, and self-healing properties.

Total biosynthesis of cotylenin diterpene glycosides as 14-3-3 protein-protein interaction stabilizers.

Cotylenins (CNs) are bioactive fungal diterpene glycosides that exhibit stabilizing activity on 14-3-3 protein-protein interactions (PPIs), which has significant therapeutic potential. Although CNs were isolated as early as 1970, their biosynthetic pathway has remained unclear, and their limited supply has hindered further research. Here, we report the identification of the biosynthetic gene cluster and elucidation of the biosynthetic pathway of CNs.

Nano-size Joule-Heating to Achieve Low-Ohmic Ag-Si Contact on Boron Emitters of n-TOPCon Solar Cells.

Over the past decade, Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) solar cells have emerged as a leading technology for high-efficiency silicon solar cells. Conventional metallization processes using silver/aluminum (Ag/Al) pastes encounter significant hurdles due to reliability risks and insufficient contact quality. Recent advancements in laser-induced metallization technologies, particularly laser-enhanced contact optimization (LECO), offer promising solutions.

Toxicological interactions of cosmetic and personal care additives mixtures: An update based on measurement and simulation.

The toxicity of chemical mixtures may be misestimated, as the assessment of individual chemicals may not adequately reflect their combined toxic effects. However, numerous combinations of chemicals and various interactions make it impossible to measure all possible mixtures. Computational toxicology can help to mitigate this issue, particularly with new methodologies that rely upon alternatives to animal testing.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed α-Regioselective Hydroboration of Allenes.

Hydroboration of allenes is powerful and atom-economic approach to the synthesis of organoboranes, such as the highly versatile allylboranes. However, regarding regiocontrol, existing methods uniformly deliver the boron functionality to the less hindered β- or γ-position, but not the α-position. The latter is particularly challenging for allenes with substantial steric difference between the two terminals and lacking electronic bias (e.

In-Depth Structural Analysis of a Stapled Pentapeptide and Its Assembly Into Straight α-Helices.

Peptide self-assembly is a complex hierarchical process involving the progressive formation of secondary structures, such as α-helices, β-sheets, and turns, during the early stages. It is precisely these multi-component building blocks that contribute to the complexity of protein assemblies in living organisms. While coiled coils are well-understood in protein folding, determining the structural characteristics governing their lateral packing remains challenging.

Bmal1 haploinsufficiency impairs fear memory and modulates neuroinflammation via the 5-HT2C receptor.

Background: BMAL1, a key regulator of circadian rhythms, plays a multifaceted role in brain function. However, the complex interplay between BMAL1, memory, neuroinflammation, and neurotransmitter regulation remains poorly understood. To investigate these interactions, we conducted a study using BMAL1-haplodeficient mice (BMAL1).

High-Entropy Rock-Salt Surface Layer Stabilizes the Ultrahigh-Ni Single-Crystal Cathode.

Single-crystalline Ni-rich layered oxides are one of the most promising cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to their superior structural stability. However, sluggish lithium-ion diffusion kinetics and interfacial issues hinder their practical applications. These issues intensify with increasing Ni content in the ultrahigh-Ni regime (≥90%), significantly threatening the practical viability of the single-crystalline strategy for ultrahigh-Ni layered oxide cathodes.

Space-Confined Vertical Growth of Large-Size Organic Semiconductor Single Crystals.

Organic semiconductor single crystals (OSSCs) have garnered considerable attention because of their high charge mobility and atomic-scale smooth surface. However, their large-size high-quality preparation remains challenging due to the inevitable defects and limited growth speed brought by traditional epitaxial growth. Here, we demonstrate a space-confined strategy, named out-of-plane microspacing in-air sublimation (OPMAS), for growing vertically millimeter-sized OSSCs in several minutes by revolutionizing the heterogeneous epitaxial growth mode severely depending on substrates into a spontaneous homogeneous growth mode free from substrates.

Preparation of Protein Lysates Using Biorthogonal Chemical Reporters for Click Reaction and in-Gel Fluorescence Analysis.

Bioorthogonal chemical reporters are non-native chemical handles introduced into biomolecules of living systems, typically through metabolic or protein engineering. These functionalities can undergo bioorthogonal reactions, such as copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC), with small-molecule probes, enabling the tagging and visualization of biomolecules. This approach has greatly enhanced our understanding of cellular dynamics, enzyme targeting, and protein post-translational modifications.