Selective pressure of various levels of erythromycin on the development of antibiotic resistance.

This study evaluated microbial fitness under selective pressure of various erythromycin concentrations and the development of resistance genes in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis).

Ferroelectric capacitive memories: devices, arrays, and applications.

Ferroelectric capacitive memories (FCMs) utilize ferroelectric polarization to modulate device capacitance for data storage, providing a new technological pathway to achieve two-terminal non-destructive-read ferroelectric memory. In contrast to the conventional resistive memories, the unique capacitive operation mechanism of FCMs transfers the memory reading and in-memory computing to charge domain, offering ultra-high energy efficiency, better compatibility to large-scale array, and negligible read disturbance. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted on FCMs.

Non-viral, high throughput genetic engineering of primary immune cells using nanostraw-mediated transfection.

Transfection of proteins, mRNA, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) transgenes into immune cells remains a critical bottleneck in cell manufacturing. Current methods, such as viruses and bulk electroporation, are hampered by low transfection efficiency, unintended transgene integration, and significant cell perturbation. The Nanostraw Electro-actuated Transfection (NExT) technology offers a solution by using high aspect-ratio nanostraws and localized electric fields to precisely deliver biomolecules into cells with minimal disruption.

Metal-organic cages improving microporosity in polymeric membrane for superior CO capture.

Mixed matrix membranes, with well-designed pore structure inside the polymeric matrix via the incorporation of inorganic components, offer a promising solution for addressing CO emissions. Here, we synthesized a series of novel metal organic cages (MOCs) with aperture pore size precisely positioned between CO and N or CH. These MOCs were uniformly dispersed in the polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1).

Facile Fabrication of Multifunctional Superhydrophobic Surfaces Synthesized by the Additive Manufacturing Technique Modified with ZnO Nanoparticles.

This article reports facile fabrication of a multifunctional smart surface having superhydrophobic self-cleaning property, superoleophilicity, and antimicrobial property. These smart surfaces have been synthesized using the stereolithography (SLA) method of the additive manufacturing technique. SLA is a fast additive manufacturing technique used to create complex parts with intricate geometries.

Insight into the abundance and optical characteristics of water-soluble organic compounds (WSOC) in PM in urban areas.

Airborne particulate matter (PM) poses significant environmental and health challenges, particularly in urban areas. This study investigated the characteristics of water-soluble organic compounds (WSOC) in PM (PM with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less) in Singapore, a tropical Asian city-state, over a six-month period.

Accelerating ASEAN's energy transition in the power sector through cross-border transmission and a net-zero 2050 view.

Faced with energy transition objectives, the ten countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have technology options to decarbonize power sector. This study investigates the hypothetical decarbonization pathways for ASEAN's power sector. Here, we present an integrated power system capacity expansion model for ASEAN over 2018-2050.

Bioelectronic and photogenerated electron synergistic catalyzed removal of chlorhexidine: Degradation and mechanism.

The extensive use of the antimicrobial compound chlorhexidine (CHD) has emerged as a significant threat to both the ecological environment and human health. To address this concern, a photo-electrochemical cell-microbial fuel cell (PMFC) system was studied for CHD removal by incorporating, for the first time, the photocatalysts black phosphorus/carbon nitride (BPCN) and CuO into the bioanode and air cathode of an MFC, respectively. By combining electrochemical, macro-genomic, and intermediate product analyses, the underlying mechanisms of bioelectronic and photoelectronic synergies were elucidated.

Impact of local government environmental attention on corporate total factor productivity: Evidence from 288 Chinese cities.

To improve the effectiveness of government environmental attention on resource allocation, this study proposes a measurement framework using text analysis and an unsupervised Word2vec model to quantify local government environmental attention of 288 Chinese cities. We further examine its impact on total factor productivity (TFP) of China's listed firms from 2010 to 2021 using the high-dimensional fixed-effects and panel quantile regression models. The findings show that: (1) Local government environmental attention contributes positively to TFP, with each unit increase raising TFP by approximately 1.

Leveraging Cross-Diversity Machine Learning to Unveil Metal-Organic Frameworks with Open Copper Sites for Biogas Upgrading.

Biogas, primarily composed of methane (CH) and carbon dioxide (CO), is considered an alternative renewable energy resource. Efficient CO/CH separation is essential for biogas upgrading to increase energy density, and in this context, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have demonstrated significant potential. Here, we integrate multiscale modeling with cross-diversity machine learning (ML) to unveil MOFs with open copper sites (OCS-MOFs) that exhibit exceptional CO/CH separation performance.

Weighted Echo State Graph Neural Networks Based on Robust and Epitaxial Film Memristors.

Hardware system customized toward the demands of graph neural network learning would promote efficiency and strong temporal processing for graph-structured data. However, most amorphous/polycrystalline oxides-based memristors commonly have unstable conductance regulation due to random growth of conductive filaments. And graph neural networks based on robust and epitaxial film memristors can especially improve energy efficiency due to their high endurance and ultra-low power consumption.

Exploring water quality variations and biofilm growth in a drinking water distribution system via a biofilm annular reactor series system and predictive modelling of residual chlorine.

The hydraulic conditions vary significantly across different segments of the drinking water distribution system (DWDS), leading to distinct variations in water quality throughout the system. Understanding these changes in water quality and biofilm development over time is crucial for enhancing drinking water management efficiency. This study focused on replicating the hydraulic conditions found in transmission and distribution pipelines within a specific pipeline path of the DWDS in Singapore using a biofilm annular reactor series system (BARSS).

Release of microplastics from polymeric ultrafiltration membrane system for drinking water treatment under different operating conditions.

Drinking water has emerged as an important route for microplastics (MPs) to enter the human body, prompting concerns about their adverse health impacts. Membrane filtration technology is widely recognized as an effective treatment solution for combating MP pollution in water. However, recent research disputes that polymeric membrane systems may serve as additional sources of MPs in drinking water.

Robust ferromagnetism in wafer-scale FeGaTe above room-temperature.

The discovery of ferromagnetism in van der Waals (vdW) materials has enriched the understanding of two-dimensional (2D) magnetic orders and opened new avenues for fundamental physics research and next generation spintronics. However, achieving ferromagnetic order at room temperature, along with strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, remains a significant challenge. In this work, we report wafer-scale growth of vdW ferromagnet FeGaTe using molecular beam epitaxy.

Molecular Design of Positively Charged 3D Covalent-Organic Framework Membranes for Li/Mg Separation.

3D covalent-organic framework (3D COF) membranes have unique features such as smaller pore sizes and more interconnected networks compared with 2D COF counterparts. However, the complicated and unmanageable fabrication hinders their rapid development. Molecular simulation, which can efficiently explore the structure-performance relationship of membranes, holds great promise in accelerating the development of 3D COF membranes.

Sensing Technologies for Outdoor/Indoor Farming.

To face the increasing requirement for grains as the global population continues to grow, improving both crop yield and quality has become essential. Plant health directly impacts crop quality and yield, making the development of plant health-monitoring technologies essential. Variable sensing technologies for outdoor/indoor farming based on different working principles have emerged as important tools for monitoring plants and their microclimates.

In-situ oxygen-supplying ROS nanopurifier for enhanced healing of MRSA-infected diabetic wounds via microenvironment modulation.

Hypoxia, high ROS levels and chronic inflammation are the main factors that hinder the healing of diabetic wounds. Long-term exposed wounds are prone to bacterial infection, especially MRSA infection, which exacerbates the complex wound microenvironment of diabetes and threatens patients' lives. Here, we developed a ROS nanopurifier (CSVNP), which was prepared by loading superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and vancomycin into nanogels through in-situ polymerization.

BEOL Three-Dimensional Stackable Oxide Semiconductor CMOS Inverter with a High Voltage Gain of 233 at Cryogenic Temperatures.

Targeting high-performance computing at cryogenic temperatures, we report back-end-of-line (BEOL)-compatible p-type Te-TeO field effect transistors (FETs) deposited using a sputtering method that is cost-effective, large-scale manufacturable, and highly controllable. Combined with the indium tin oxide channel n-FETs employing a common gate and HfO gate dielectric, BEOL three-dimensional stackable oxide semiconductor complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) inverters were further realized, demonstrating excellent threshold voltage matching, with a high voltage gain of 132 with a 2 V supply voltage () at room temperature. At cryogenic temperatures, the CMOS inverter exhibits significantly enhanced performance, achieving a voltage gain of 233 at a of 2 V with a wide noise margin of 86%.

Enhanced photocatalytic performance and a mechanistic study of novel black phosphorus/graphene/TiO composite membrane for o-chlorophenol removal.

The heterogeneous catalysis of the composite membrane not only exerts the synergistic effect of different materials but also enable the recyclable use of catalysts, making it an ideal and sustainable strategy for removing pollutants in water. In this study, a novel black phosphorus/graphene/titanium dioxide (BP/GR/TiO) membrane was successfully prepared through the sol-gel method. The composite membrane not only overcame the instability of black phosphorus and the rapid recombination of e/h pairs in titanium dioxide but also synergized with GR to produce a new reactive oxygen species (ROS), singlet oxygen (O), with a longer lifetime and migration distance.

Iron-glucose oxidase nanogel assembly for amplified starvation-ferroptosis anti-tumor therapy.

Developing advanced and effective enzyme-drug systems for cancer treatment is of significant interest. Herein, a novel approach is reported to create a highly active and robust enzyme-drug system. Glucose oxidase nanogels (nGOx) are first synthesized by polymerization on the surface of GOx using vinylimidazole as comonomers.

Examining macro-level traffic crashes considering nonlinear and spatiotemporal spillover effects.

Understanding the impacts of traffic crashes is essential for safety management and proactive safety protection. Current studies often hold the assumption of linearity and spatial dependence, which may lead to underestimated results. To address these gaps, this study considers both nonlinear and spatiotemporal spillover effects to explore the intricate relationships between vehicular crashes and their influencing factors at a macro level.

Effect of non-antibiotic factors on conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in aquaculture water.

Aquaculture water with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is escalating due to the horizontal gene transfer. Non-antibiotic stressors specifically found, including those from fishery feed and disinfectants, are potential co-selectors. However, the mechanisms underlying this process remains unclear.

Revisiting alkali pretreatment to transform lignocellulose fermentation with integration of bioprocessible lignin.

This study emphasized the synergistic production of bioprocessible lignin and carbohydrates during a sequential liquid hot water and alkali pretreatment of lignocellulose, facilitating their subsequent individual fermentation. Increasing the dose of alkaline lignin from 0 to 8 g/L inhibited cell growth in anaerobic digestion, with varying levels of inhibition observed in the following order: hydrolytic bacteria < acidogens < acetogens. Alkali pretreatment was adapted to maximize yields of bioprocessible lignin liquor without compromising utilization of the carbohydrates.

Single-layer MoS/graphene-based stable on-chip Zn-ion microbattery for monolithically integrated electronics.

Self-powered microelectronics are essential for the sustained and autonomous operations of wireless electronics and microrobots. However, they are challenged by integratable microenergy supplies. Herein, we report a single-layer (SL) MoS/graphene heterostructure for stable Zn-ion microbatteries.