Browse Articles

Designing proteins targeting neosurfaces

Dynamic magnetoelectric effect of the polar magnet CaBaCo4O7

We have investigated the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the dynamic magnetoelectric coefficient αE of the polar magnet CaBaCo4O7. The temperature dependence of αE exhibits a peak at the magnetic transition temperature TC in zero magnetic field, evidencing an enhanced magnetoelectric effect near the phase boundary. When a DC magnetic field is applied along either a- or b-axis, the peak position of αE shifts continuously to a higher temperature while the peak amplitude reaches the maximum at a critical field and decays for higher magnetic fields. The obtained magnetoelectric phase diagram suggests that the maximum dynamic magnetoelectric effect occurs in a region above TC where short-range magnetic correlations play a crucial role and the peak is due to a metamagnetic transition. The measurements of the magnetostrictive coefficient dλ/dH reveal that the magnetoelectric effect is closely related to the magnetoelastic coupling. Our study provides insights toward achieving significant dynamic magnetoelectric effect at high temperatures in polar magnets.

Real time task planning for order picking in intelligent logistics warehousing

Degrading aurora kinase A in neuroblastoma

Heterodimeric Photosensitizer as Radical Generators to Promoting Type I Photodynamic Conversion for Hypoxic Tumor Therapy

Abstract Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using traditional type II photosensitizers (PSs) has been limited in hypoxic tumors due to excessive oxygen consumption. The conversion from type II into a less oxygen‐dependent type I PDT pathway has shown the potential to combat hypoxic tumors. Herein, the design of a heterodimeric PS, NBSSe , by conjugating a widely used type I PS NBS and a type II PS NBSe via molecular dimerization, achieving the aggregation‐regulated efficient type I photodynamic conversion for the first time is reported. Electrochemistry characterizations and theoretical calculations elucidate that NBSSe tends to form a S +· /Se −· radical pair via intramolecular electron transfer in the co‐excited NBSSe * aggregate, realizing 7.25‐fold O 2 −· generation compared to NBS and 80% suppression of 1 O 2 generation compared to NBSe . The enhanced O 2 −· generation of NBSSe enables excellent anti‐hypoxia PDT efficiency and inhibition of pulmonary metastasis. Additionally, the incorporation of electron‐rich bovine serum albumin accelerates the recycling of cationic PS radical NBSSe +· , further boosting photostability and O 2 −· generation. The resultant BSA@NBSSe nanoparticles demonstrate successful tumor‐targeting PDT capability. This work provides an appealing avenue to convert ROS generation from the type II pathway to the type I pathway for efficient cancer phototherapy in hypoxia.

Spin-to-charge conversion at KTaO3(111) interfaces

Rashba spin–orbit coupling locks the spin with the momentum of charge carriers at the broken inversion interfaces, which could generate a large spin galvanic response. Here, we demonstrate spin-to-charge conversion (inverse Rashba–Edelstein effect) in KTaO3(111) two-dimensional electron systems. We explain the results in the context of electronic structure, orbital character, and spin texture at the KTaO3(111) interfaces. We also show that the angle dependence of the spin-to-charge conversion on in-plane magnetic field exhibits a nontrivial behavior, which matches the symmetry of the Fermi states. Results point to opportunities to use spin-to-charge conversion as a tool to investigate the electronic structure and spin texture.

A cautionary note on the potential pitfalls of using N-terminal truncated CD63 to label small extracellular vesicles

Abstract Small extracellular vesicles (sEV) are nanosized vesicles that facilitate intracellular communication. A significant research obstacle is the isolation of sEV devoid of non-sEV contaminants. Immunoaffinity capture with sEV-specific antibodies is an attractive approach to purifying sEV, but it risks disrupting the vesicles during antibody dissociation. Furthermore, immunoaffinity capture may require the modification of EV-specific proteins for the incorporation of tags on the EV surface, with unknown implications on EV production and function. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a previously reported CD63 truncation is efficient for the incorporation of small tags on the extravesicular surface. We therefore conjugated ALFA-tag to N-terminal-truncated CD63, and included nanoluciferase at the C-terminus, for luminescent tracing of the sEV. Full-length CD63-nanoluciferase was used as a control. Plasmid constructs expressing these proteins were transfected into HEK293 cells. In contrast to a previous report, the N-terminal truncation of CD63 impaired its membrane localisation and reduced the yield of EVs. Further investigation revealed that some of the tagged CD63 was co-localized with aggresomes and was preferentially secreted from the cells as soluble protein rather than being associated with sEV. These results demonstrate that CD63 truncation can impair its function and EV yield, potentially generating misleading results.

FDA approves new non-opioid pain drug

High-performance, broadband, and self-driven photodetector based on MoTe2 homojunction with asymmetrical contact interfaces

The van der Waals junction of two-dimensional materials has the characteristics of weak interlayer interaction and strong light–mass interaction. The internal electric field formed at the interface of Van der Waals junction promotes the separation and efficient transfer of photogenerated carriers, showing the characteristics of low power consumption, self-drive, high responsiveness, and ultrafast response. Therefore, we fabricate a transverse homojunction photodetector by mechanical stripping. Furthermore, considering the influence of the contact between the two sides of the metal electrodes, we select the metal electrodes corresponding to the matching work function according to the Fermi level with different thicknesses of MoTe2, and two anti-barrier layers are obtained. Finally, a transverse homojunction self-driven photodetector with Au-thin MoTe2-thick MoTe2–Ni/Au structure is fabricated, which improves the photosensitivity and response time, and broadens the spectral detection range. When Vds = 0 V, the rectifier ratio increases to 4.6 × 103, which is 50 times higher than that of symmetrical electrode homojunction. Under zero bias voltage, when the spot area is 3 × 10−9 m2, the photosensitivity reaches 28 mA/W (637 nm), the response time is 38.83/40.17 μs, and the infrared detection is extended to 1550 nm. It has potential applications in optoelectronics and optical signal detection.

Enhancing the power quality of dual rotor wind turbines using improved fuzzy space vector modulation and super twisting sliding techniques

Building a Highly Stable Red/Near Infrared Afterglow Library with Highly Branched Structures

AbstractAchieving organic red/near infrared (NIR) phosphorescence at high temperatures is theoretically challenging because of the severe nonradiative transitions of excited triplet states with low energy gaps. This study realizes bright and persistent red/NIR afterglow with excellent high‐temperature resistance up to 413 K via highly efficient (≈100%) phosphorescence resonance energy transfer (PRET) from rationally designed branched phosphorescence luminogens as energy donors to red/NIR dyes as acceptors, coupled with optimized aggregated structures. According to systematic investigations, the abundant internal cavities formed by the highly branched luminogens in solid states ensure dye loading and space limitation, which can considerably suppress nonradiative transitions at high temperatures, promoting a persistent red/NIR afterglow with excellent stability. Moreover, 16 types of host–guest systems with varied topological structures of branched luminogens and different red/NIR dyes of various sizes confirm the universality of the strategy. This study provides an efficient approach to achieve a highly stable red/NIR afterglow.

Deep learning-enabled gradient-based optimization of near-field enhancement in nano-plasmonic structures

In this work, we present a gradient-based optimization method to optimize the geometrical properties of metasurfaces based on nano-plasmonic structures, aiming to enhance electric field intensity for applications including high-harmonic generation and surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensing. Our approach involves developing a data-driven deep learning simulator that estimates the electromagnetic response. Specifically, the simulator predicts the electric field distribution at a given cross section of a plasmonic meta-atom based on its geometry. Since the simulator is differentiable, it enables the optimization of various powers of the electric field intensity by coupling it with a generator model and a suitable loss function. With respect to conventional methods that rely on trial and error for optimization and miss atoms intercoupling, our approach systematically considers the collective behavior of the metasurface and efficiently explores the design space. Furthermore, it is capable of capturing multiple local minima within these electrodynamic systems, with optimization results well beyond the training dataset. The generalization capability of the simulator and the behavior of the optimized geometries are validated against a finite element method numerical model.

Record of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from prehistoric sediments and human activity in the Lubei plain of China

Abstract Understanding the sources and dynamics of past biomass burning remain a significant challenge due to variations in paleofire combustion patterns across different temporal and spatial scales. This study integrates black carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) records from the Lubei Plain in the Shandong Peninsula, Lower Yellow River, to reconstruct Holocene fire regimes and their relationship with climatic shifts and human activities over the past 5000 years. During the mid-to-late Holocene (5000–3000 year BP. (calendar years before 1950)), a biomass burning levels were generally low, with a pronounced peak in low-molecular-weight PAHs (3-ring PAHs) and charcoal fluxes between 5000 and 4500 year BP, indicating increased fire activity likely driven by a short-term cold-dry event around 5000 year BP. From 3500 to 1000 year BP, three distinct episodes of low-temperature smoldering fires are identified, coinciding with deforestation and persistent droughts during the Shang Dynasty (3600–3046 year BP), the Qin and Western Han Dynasties (2200–2000 year BP), and the Sui and Tang Dynasties (1400–1100 year BP). In contrast, high-temperature flaming fires are associated with periods of intensified warfare and social upheaval, compounded by cold, arid climates during the Warring States period (2500–2400 year BP), the Eastern Han Dynasty (2000–1800 year BP), and the Wei, Jin, and Southern-Northern Dynasties (1800–1400 year BP). Over the past millennium, anthropogenic biomass burning remained elevated, reflecting sustained human influence on fire regimes. Meanwhile, Pollen and n-alkane records reveal a transition from primary forests to secondary shrubland during the late Holocene, driven by declining seasonal precipitation linked to a weakening East Asian monsoon and increased anthropogenic burning. Principal component analysis indicates that long-term deforestation primarily drove low-temperature smoldering fires, whereas high-temperature fires were more closely linked to periods of conflict. Seasonal precipitation variability, regulated by monsoonal dynamics, emerged as a fundamental control on fire regimes. This integrated analysis of PAHs, black carbon, and charcoal, coupled with multivariate statistical approaches, offers a robust framework for reconstructing fire-climate-human interactions in East Asia. The findings provide new insights into the mechanisms driving fire regimes and their long-term ecological and societal impacts.

Autonomous, Moisture‐Driven Flexible Electrogenerative Dressing for Enhanced Wound Healing

AbstractElectrotherapy has shown considerable potential in treating chronic wounds, but conventional approaches relying on bulky external power supplies and mechanical force are limited in their clinical utility. This study introduces an autonomous, moisture‐driven flexible electrogenerative dressing (AMFED) that overcomes these limitations. The AMFED integrates a moist‐electric generator (MEG), an antibacterial hydrogel dressing, and concentric molybdenum (Mo) electrodes to provide a self‐sustaining electrical supply and potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The MEG harnesses chemical energy from moisture to produce a stable direct current of 0.61 V without external input, delivering this therapeutic electrical stimulation to the wound site through the Mo electrodes. The AMFED facilitates macrophage polarization toward reparative M2 phenotype and regulates inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, in vivo studies suggest that the AMFED group significantly enhances chronic wound healing, with an approximate 41% acceleration compared to the control group. Using a diabetic mouse wound model, the AMFED demonstrates its effectiveness in promoting nerve regulation, epithelial migration, and vasculogenesis. These findings present a novel and efficient platform for accelerating chronic wound healing.

Influence of temperature on the avalanche dynamics of ferroelectric domain switching in barium titanate single crystals

This study investigates the avalanche dynamics of ferroelectric domain switching in barium titanate single crystals across a range of temperatures using acoustic emission techniques. Ferroelectric domain switching induced by an electric field exhibits scale-invariant avalanche dynamics, with the energy exponent increasing from 1.63 ± 0.067 at room temperature to 1.92 ± 0.045 near the Curie point, before decreasing at higher temperatures. This peak in the exponent is attributed to the interplay between equilibrium critical fluctuations and avalanche criticality. As the temperature approaches the Curie point, smaller domains and reduced polarization promote lower-energy switching, increasing the energy exponent. Near the Curie temperature, equilibrium fluctuations further modify the energy landscape, likely generating more phase boundaries and amplifying the energy exponent. Above the Curie temperature, electric field-induced phase transition dominates the switching process, where the higher energy barrier hinders switching, resulting in more energetic events and a lower energy exponent. Across all temperatures, waiting time distributions exhibit double power-law behavior, with exponents of −1 ± 0.05 for short times and −2 ± 0.10 for long times, while aftershock activity follows Omori's law with an exponent close to −1, indicating robust temporal correlations in ferroelectric domain switching. This study underscores that the avalanche dynamics of ferroelectric domain switching can be effectively modulated by temperature.

Revisiting risk factors and incidence of postoperative tachyarrhythmias in pediatric cardiac surgery

J&J buys Intra-Cellular Therapies for US$14.6 billion, expanding its neuroscience portfolio

Construction of Acceptor‐Multi‐F State Electrolyte to Enable Unprecedented Long‐Life and High‐Capacity Fluoride‐Ion Batteries

AbstractFluoride ion batteries (FIBs) have garnered significant attention due to their ultrahigh theoretical energy density, dendrite‐free safety, and resource abundance. Although some anion acceptors have been proposed to address the insolubility of inorganic fluoride salts, the difficulty in dissociating fluoride ions from acceptors results in short lifespan and extremely low specific capacity of FIBs. Here, a fluoride ion battery is demonstrated with unprecedented long life and ultrahigh specific capacity through the design of an acceptor‐multi‐F state electrolyte. The high Lewis acidity of triphenylantimony chloride (TSbCl) as a novel anion acceptor in electrolyte facilitates the complete dissociation of CsF, and the resulting TSbCl‐F complex can further interact with fluoride ions to form the acceptor‐multi‐F states. This strategy combines the high dissociation capability for fluoride salts with the minimal thermodynamic barriers for releasing fluoride ions at electrode‐electrolyte interface. This electrolyte design endows FIBs with durable reversible fluorination/defluorination reaction (3700 cycles with high coulombic efficiency of 99.5% and small voltage polarization of 30 mV) and ultrahigh reversible capacity (580 mAh g−1 after 40 cycles at 100 mA g−1). The high‐output voltage FIBs of CuF2//Li configuration (with discharge plateau of 2.9 V) and larger‐sized pouch‐type FIBs of CuF2//Sn+SnF2 configuration (with reversible capacity of 530 mAh g−1) are demonstrated.

Directional Freeze‐Casting Cryogel Loaded with Quaternized Chitosan Modified Gallium Metal–Organic Frameworks to Capture and Eradicate the Resistant Bacteria for Guided Regeneration in Infected Bone Defects

Abstract Antimicrobial resistance and impaired bone regeneration are the great challenges in treating infected bone defects. Its recurrent and resistant nature, high incidence rate, long‐term hospitalization, and high medical costs have driven the efforts of the scientific community to develop new therapies to improve the situation. Considering the complex microenvironment and persistent mechanisms mediated by resistant bacteria, it is crucial to develop an implant with enhanced osseointegration and sustained and effective infection clearance effects. Here, a positively charged quaternized chitosan (QCS) coated gallium‐based metal–organic framework (GaMOF) is designed, to capture the antibiotic‐resistant bacteria (Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus , MRSA) as a “captor”, and rejuvenate Methicillin (Me) via disturbing the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Then, a radially oriented porous cryogel loaded with the Me and QCSGaMOF is fabricated by the directional freeze‐casting method. The oriented porous structure has an enhanced osseointegration effect by guiding the ingrowth of osteogenic cells. In vitro and in vivo experiments prove the advantages of as‐prepared Me/QCSGa‐MOF@Cryogel in combating resistant bacteria and guiding bone regeneration in infected bone defects.

High-efficiency broadband achromatic metalens in the visible

The metalenses have been extensively studied for their compact and flexible characteristics in focusing and imaging applications. However, it remains a significant challenge to design a broadband achromatic metalens that maintains high efficiency under arbitrary polarization incidence. In this work, we design a broadband achromatic metalens that achieves polarization-insensitive, high-efficiency focusing by effectively utilizing both co-polarization and cross-polarization terms of the transmitted light. Using a minimalist anisotropic nanofin library, we optimize the phase distribution of the metalens at each designed wavelength with the particle swarm algorithm. Numerical simulations demonstrate a stable focal length with a deviation of less than 4% and an average focusing efficiency of 80.5% in the visible wavelength range of 450–650 nm. Moreover, we design a multi-wavelength off-axis bi-focal metalens to demonstrate the flexible control of output light phase and dispersion achieved by this method. The generality of this design enables its implementation in various metasurface devices, accelerating applications in high-quality and multi-channel image display.