Synergistically Halogenated and Methoxylated Thiophene Additive Enables High-Performance Organic Solar Cells.

Morphology control plays a key role for improving efficiency and stability of bulk heterojunctions (BHJ) organic solar cells (OSCs). Halogenation and methoxylation are two separate ways successfully adopted in additives for morphology optimization. In this work, these two strategies are combined together.

An Oriented Interpenetrating Network Structure Multi-Stimuli Responsive Hydrogel.

As a recent focal point of research, soft electronics encompass various factors that synergistically enhance their mechanical properties and ensure stable electrical performance. However, challenges such as immiscible conductive fillers, poor phase interfaces, and unstable conductive networks hinder the overall efficacy of these materials. To address these issues, a hydrogel featuring an oriented interpenetrating network structure (OIPN) is developed.

Correlation Decoupling of Casimir Interaction in an Electrolyte Driven by External Electric Fields.

It is well established that the long-range van der Waals or thermal Casimir interaction between two semi-infinite dielectrics separated by a distance H is screened by an intervening electrolyte. Here we show how this interaction is modified when an electric field of strength E is applied parallel to the dielectric boundaries, leading to a nonequilibrium steady state with a current. The presence of the field induces a long-range thermal repulsive interaction, scaling just like the thermal Casimir interaction between dielectrics without the intervening electrolyte, i.

Enhanced Conductivity in Conjugated Microporous Polymers via Integrating of Carbon Nanotubes for Ultrasensitive NO Chemiresistive Sensor.

Conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) present high promise for chemiresistive gas sensing owing to their inherent porosities, high surface areas, and tunable semiconducting properties. However, the poor conductivity hinders their widespread application in chemiresistive sensing. In this work, three typical CMPs (PSATA, PSATB, and PSATT) are synthesized and their chemiresistive gas sensing performance is investigated for the first time.

Comprehensive Multidimensional Analysis of Metal(loid)-Containing Dust in Plastic Sports Facilities: Insights into the Potential Sources and Health Risks.

Dust released from widely established plastic sports courts and synthetic turf poses potential environmental and health risks. Herein, we systematically investigate the metal(loid) characteristics, potential sources, and health risks of 162 dust samples from 17 campuses in Beijing, using complementary analytical techniques. Bulk analysis revealed higher levels of Zn, Pb, Cu, Sb, Cd, and Cr than background values, suggesting excessive anthropogenic contamination.

Core Payload of the Space Gravitational Wave Observatory: Inertial Sensor and Its Critical Technologies.

Since Einstein's prediction regarding the existence of gravitational waves was directly verified by the ground-based detector Advanced LIGO, research on gravitational wave detection has garnered increasing attention. To overcome limitations imposed by ground vibrations and interference at arm's length, a space-based gravitational wave detection initiative was proposed, which focuses on analyzing a large number of waves within the frequency range below 1 Hz. Due to the weak signal intensity, the TMs must move along their geodesic orbit with a residual acceleration less than 10 m/s/Hz.

Prospects for PARG inhibitors in cancer therapy.

Poly(ADP-ribose) glycosylhydrolase (PARG) is an enzyme involved in hydrolyzing the ribose-ribose bonds present in poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR), which are primarily found in the nucleus. Along with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), PARG regulates the level of PAR in cells, playing a crucial role in DNA maintenance and repair processes. Recent studies have revealed elevated levels of PARG in various cancers, such as breast, liver, prostate, and esophageal cancers, indicating a link to unfavorable cancer outcomes.

N-heterocyclic nitrenium-catalyzed photosynthesis of 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles from α-chloroanilides.

The radical cascade reaction of α-halogenated anilides represents an efficient approach for synthesizing 3,3-oxindoles. However, most methods have focused on α-bromoanilides, with limited utilization of the more stable and readily available α-chloroanilides. In addition, the transition-metal-free preparation of 3,3-oxindoles has been far less explored.

Atmospheric Hg(0) dry deposition over environmental surfaces: Insights from mercury isotope fractionation.

Atmospheric Hg(0) dry deposition is a vital process that significantly affects the global distribution and cycling of Hg. However, significant knowledge gaps and challenges remain in understanding atmospheric Hg(0) deposition and its subsequent post-deposition processes. Hg isotope fractionation has emerged as the most powerful tool for evaluating the impact of atmospheric Hg(0) deposition and unraveling key processes associated with it.

PRIM2 promotes proliferation and metastasis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through interactions with FAM111B.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) are huge threat to human for the extreme malignancy. PRIM2 was reported as tumor marker, while the functions and regulatory mechanisms in PDAC are still unclear. The study aimed to investigate the function of PRIM2 in PDAC.

A temporal-spectral fusion transformer with subject-specific adapter for enhancing RSVP-BCI decoding.

The Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP)-based Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is an efficient technology for target retrieval using electroencephalography (EEG) signals. The performance improvement of traditional decoding methods relies on a substantial amount of training data from new test subjects, which increases preparation time for BCI systems. Several studies introduce data from existing subjects to reduce the dependence of performance improvement on data from new subjects, but their optimization strategy based on adversarial learning with extensive data increases training time during the preparation procedure.

Anthracene-Based Endoperoxides as Self-Sensitized Singlet Oxygen Carriers for Hypoxic-Tumor Photodynamic Therapy.

Singlet oxygen is a crucial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, the hypoxic tumor microenvironment limits the production of cytotoxic singlet oxygen through the light irradiation of PDT photosensitizers (PSs). This restriction poses a major challenge in improving the effectiveness of PDT.

Ultra-compact dual-channel integrated CO infrared gas sensor.

Expiratory CO concentrations can directly reflect human physiological conditions, and their detection is highly important in the treatment and rehabilitation of critically ill patients. Existing respiratory gas analyzers suffer from large sizes and high power consumption due to the limitations of the internal CO sensors, which prevent them from being wearable to track active people. The internal and external interference and sensitivity limitations must be overcome to realize wearable respiratory monitoring applications for CO sensors.

Deep Ancestral Introgressions between Ovine Species Shape Sheep Genomes via Argali-Mediated Gene Flow.

Previous studies revealed extensive genetic introgression between Ovis species, which affects genetic adaptation and morphological traits. However, the exact evolutionary scenarios underlying the hybridization between sheep and allopatric wild relatives remain unknown. To address this problem, we here integrate the reference genomes of several ovine and caprine species: domestic sheep, argali, bighorn sheep, snow sheep, and domestic goats.

Molecular Photoswitching Unlocks Glucose Oxidase for Synergistically Reinforcing Fenton Reactions for Antitumor Chemodynamic Therapy.

We have developed a new type of nanoparticles with potent antitumor activity photoactivatable via the combination of molecular photoswitching of spiropyran (SP) and enzymatic reaction of glucose oxidase (GOx). As two key processes involved therein, Fe(III)-to-Fe(II) photoreduction in Fe(III) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) brings about the release of free Fe/Fe while the photoswitching of SP to merocyanine (MC) unlocks the enzymatic activity of GOx that was pre-passivated by SP. The release of free Fe boosts its hydrolysis and therefore enables the acidification of microenvironment, which is further reinforced by one of the products of the GOx-mediated glucose oxidation reaction, gluconic acid (GlcA).

Water-extractable metals as indicators of wheat metal accumulation: Insights from Cd, Pb, Mn, Cu, and Zn.

There is a long-standing debate over the effectiveness of chemical extraction methods in assessing soil metal phytoavailability. This study addresses the limitations of widely-used chemical extraction methods and presents the water-extractable pool as a more reliable indicator based on wheat pot experiments using homogenized agricultural soil amended with lime materials, phosphate, and biochar. Over 120 days' pot experiments, Cd accumulation in whole wheat plants and tissues exhibited positive relationships with water-extractable Cd concentrations at heading and maturity stage (Spearman's rho: 0.

Protective RBD-dimer vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants produced in glycoengineered Pichia pastoris.

Protective vaccines are crucial for preventing and controlling coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Updated vaccines are needed to confront the continuously evolving and circulating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants. These vaccines should be safe, effective, amenable to easily scalable production, and affordable.

Unique Jurassic Ovaries Shed a New Light on the Nature of Carpels.

Enclosed ovules are a reproductive feature restricted to angiosperms. Although this feature can be used as a criterion for identifying fossil angiosperms, how ovules are enclosed and the nature of the placenta are still foci of debates. A reason underlying these controversies is the lack of reproductive organ fossils shedding light on these issues.

Assessment of the Efficacy of the Antihistamine Drug Rupatadine Used Alone or in Combination against Mycobacteria.

The emergence of drug-resistant mycobacteria has rendered many clinical drugs and regimens ineffective, imposing significant economic and healthcare burden on individuals and society. Repurposing drugs intended for treating other diseases is a time-saving, cost-effective, and efficient approach for identifying excellent antimycobacterial candidates or lead compounds. This study is the first to demonstrate that rupatadine (RTD), a drug used to treat allergic rhinitis, possesses excellent activity against mycobacteria without detectable resistance, particularly and , with a minimal inhibitory concentration as low as 3.