Browse Articles

One-pot co-upcycling of mixed polyolefin waste

Resolving the Efficiency–Mechanical Trade‐off in Organic Solar Cells: 20.4% Enabled by Hydrogen‐Bonding Engineering

ABSTRACT Organic solar cells (OSCs) face a trade‐off between power conversion efficiency (PCE) and mechanical robustness: high toughness requires low‐crystallinity amorphous polymers, which impair photovoltaic performance. Herein, we propose a strategy combining random copolymerization and hydrogen‐bonding modulation to resolve this conflict. First, the incorporation of an ester‐substituted thiophene yields PM6‐H, exhibiting improved toughness (high crack‐onset strain, COS ) but lower PCE. Subsequently, introducing ─OH and ─OOCNHC 6 H 13 groups at the terminals of alkyl chains forms PM6‐OH and PM6‐UR. The hydrogen bonding serves dual functions: acting as dynamic cross‐linking sites to further enhance mechanical properties while restoring optimal lamellar stacking for efficient charge transport. As a result, these copolymers simultaneously achieve a COS exceeding 46%, a high PCE of up to 20.4%, and superior storage, thermal, and light stability (with T 80 being twice that of the PM6 benchmark). Flexible OSCs fabricated using these donor polymers deliver a PCE of 18.22% while maintaining outstanding flexibility, with ∼90% PCE retention after 2200 bending cycles (vs. 78% for controls). This work demonstrates that copolymerization with controlled hydrogen‐bonding interactions overcomes the efficiency‐robustness trade‐off in OSCs through precise structural modulation, paving the way for high‐performance, mechanically durable, and stable OSCs suitable for practical applications.

Food insecurity and associated factors among adult cancer patients in south Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Embryo metabolite analysis and implantation potential prediction using chemiluminescent microfluidic chips with dielectric wetting valves

Engineering Fluoroacetate Dehalogenase by Growth‐Based Selections on Non‐Natural Organofluorides

ABSTRACT The widespread use of organofluorides in modern society has inadvertently led to the bioaccumulation of harmful pollutants, most prominently per‐ and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS). In principle, tailored biocatalysts able to cleave C─F bonds represent an attractive strategy to combat this (emerging) environmental crisis. However, Nature is largely impartial to C─F bonds, with fluoroacetate dehalogenases (FAcDs) standing out by catalyzing the hydrolysis of single C─F bonds in fluoroacetate at high turnover rates. To harness its catalytic prowess for non‐natural organofluorides, we designed and applied a robust growth‐based selection strategy for large‐scale FAcD engineering. Specifically, we demonstrate that FAcD‐catalyzed C─F bond cleavage of (natural and) synthetic organofluorides generates metabolizable carbon sources for bacteria, enabling in vivo enrichment of active FAcD variants. By forcing populations expressing diverse FAcD‐libraries to utilize various organofluorides as sole carbon source, we elicited a panel of FAcD variants with improved activities and altered substrate profiles for fluoroacetate, 2‐fluoropropionate, and 2,2‐difluoroacetate. In these efforts, we also identified a previously overlooked inhibition pathway, which impedes the conversion of gem‐difluoride compounds. Overall, our study presents the first large‐scale engineering campaign of FAcDs and introduces an operationally simple selection platform to adapt these enzymes for the sustainable degradation of contaminating organofluorides.

Preliminary reference range for B cell subpopulations in peripheral blood of healthy Malaysian children aged 2–15 years

Abstract Physicians rely on reference values from healthy populations to guide clinical decisions regarding B-cell subpopulations in primary immunodeficiency. While age-dependent reference ranges have been reported in several populations, no study has established these values for Malaysian children. Given that B-cell subpopulation distributions may vary between populations, we aimed to define reference ranges for total B cells, transitional B cells, naïve B cells, total memory B cells, switched and non-switched memory B cells, and plasmablasts in Malaysian children aged 2 to 15 years. Blood samples taken from 85 children aged 2 to 15 years were evaluated for the distribution of B cell subsets. Absolute numbers and percentages were determined for total B cells (CD19 + ), transitional B cells (CD19 + CD27 − CD24 + bright CD38 +bright ), naïve B cells (CD19 + CD27 − IgD + ), total memory B cells (CD19 + CD27 + ), class-switched memory B cells (CD19 + CD27 + IgM − IgD − ), non-classical switched memory B cells(CD19 + CD27 − IgM − IgD − ), non-switched memory B cells (CD19 + CD27 + IgM + IgD + ), and plasmablasts (CD19 + CD27 + CD38 + bright ). We observed age-dependent variations in most B-cell subpopulations, with naïve B cells being predominant, followed by memory B cells, while plasmablasts were present in trace amounts across all ages. Additionally, certain of B-cell subpopulations (total memory B cells and class-switched memory B cells) were observed at higher frequencies in female children compared to males. This study provides age-specific reference values for B cell subsets in a paediatric population, which may serve as a valuable guideline for diagnosing children with suspected immunodeficiency.

Persistent semiquinone radicals enable efficient near-infrared-driven H2O2 photosynthesis

Modulation of Local Hydrogen Bonding for Highly Efficient Bi‐MOFs Photocatalyzed Fixation of N ₂ in Aqueous Solution

ABSTRACT For photocatalytic reduction of dinitrogen in aqueous solution, water plays an important role as not only a reactant to supply protons via the water oxidation reaction, but also a solvent, which cannot be neglected. At the interface between the catalyst surface and local water molecules, modulation of the hydrogen bonds (HBs) is critical for improving the production rate of ammonia. Herein, both roles (i.e., reactant and solvent) were balanced through the formation of an interfacial HB network between organic ligands of Bi‐MOFs and water with the aim of accelerating water oxidation to produce more protons and facilitating the adsorption of N 2 as well as the release of free water molecules. With this approach, the ammonia synthesis rate reached 258.86 µmol·g −1 ·h −1 at ambient conditions. As demonstrated, the empty 6p orbitals present in Bi 3+ (6s 2 6p 0 ), can accept electrons from the ligands due to the ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer (LMCT) effect. These electrons are then transferred to the π* antibonding orbitals of N 2 , thus significantly weakening the N≡N bond. The photogenerated holes on the ligands oxidize hydrogen‐bonded water molecules, producing more protons, which can further promote the critical process, namely the proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET), for the multi‐step hydrogenation of N 2 . Therefore, the dynamic balance among N 2 adsorption and activation, proton supply capacity, and proton transfer was achieved through a local microenvironment modulation strategy on MOFs. As a further proof, a phototactically produced NH 4 + solution with a concentration of approx. 200 mg·L −1 was concentrated and used as a fertilizer. Overall, this work provided a new design strategy for the photocatalytic reduction of N 2 to produce ammonia on MOFs by elucidating the key role of the HB network.

Study on inter-segment interference mechanisms and patterns between horizontal well sections in a combined well pattern of horizontal and vertical wells in offshore oilfields

Abstract In the development of heavy oil fields in the Bohai Sea, the “horizontal + directional” well pattern has significantly improved recovery rates. However, as the oilfield enters the ultra-high water cut stage, changes in waterflooding behavior and production characteristics lead to a more complex distribution of remaining oil, posing challenges for subsequent development. This study introduces a dynamic interference analysis method that integrates three-dimensional (3D) physical modeling with numerical simulation. The method optimizes the interference prediction model under the “horizontal + directional” well pattern, aiding in well placement optimization and enhancing development efficiency during the ultra-high water cut period. Additionally, a phenomenon was observed where remaining oil concentrates in the central segment during the displacement process. Through numerical simulations under varying permeability rhythms, the impact of the injection-production relationship on the distribution of remaining oil was revealed, providing a theoretical foundation for well pattern optimization. The findings offer technical support for the continued development of Bohai Oilfields under ultra-high water cut conditions and provide valuable guidance for other offshore heavy oil fields. The new methods proposed in this study can improve recovery rates in complex waterflood environments.

Supramolecular coiled-coil peptide platform for site-specific antibody drug conjugate engineering

Proton‐Activated Artificial Channels for pH‐Selective Cancer Therapy

ABSTRACT Proton‐activated ion channels mediate ion transport in response to extracellular acidification, enabling cellular adaptation to acidic microenvironments. Despite their biological importance, mimicking proton‐activated functionality in artificial ion channels remains a significant challenge. Here, we present a novel class of proton‐activated artificial ion channels built from self‐assembled peptide chains integrated into a pH‐responsive 2,2′‐bipyridine scaffold. Protonation induces a conformational switch in the channel‐forming units, promoting one‐dimensional self‐assembly and subsequent hydrophobic packing into functional channels capable of transporting small molecules. As extracellular pH decreases from 7.4 to 6.5, C‐FF exhibits a 10.3‐fold enhancement in cytotoxicity against human colorectal carcinoma cells, boosting an IC 50 of 2.8 µM, mediated through apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest resulting from disruption of the autophagic process. Significantly, C‐FF demonstrates exceptional selectivity for cancer cells, achieving a selectivity index of 8.5, surpassing that of doxorubicin by one order of magnitude while maintaining comparable potency, highlighting its potential as a pH‐responsive platform for selective anticancer therapy in acidic tumor microenvironments.

Exploring the anti-inflammatory effects of genistein in an in vitro lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophage model

Efficient sampling of large-scale transition pathways and intermediate conformations in sub-mesoscopic protein complexes

Abstract Protein conformational changes are the cornerstone of biological function. While conformers captured experimentally represent metastable states, the pathways connecting them have been elusive for experiments and simulations alike. Nowadays, cryogenic Electron Microscopy is providing rich structural data on proteins trapped in different states for increasingly large systems, but these are out of scope for most computational methods which exhibit an N 2 dependence on size. Based on our previous eBDIMS algorithm, here we present eBDIMS2, an optimized version with quasi-linear size dependence, able to simulate on a desktop computer particularly complex transitions for megadalton protein assemblies, like the rotary motion of ATP synthases. Not only eBDIMS2 pathways spontaneously visit experimental intermediates but also overlap with enhanced and microsecond Molecular Dynamics simulations requiring extensive supercomputing resources. By integrating Elastic Networks with Brownian Dynamics, eBDIMS2 allows an unprecedented exploration of conformational changes of sub-mesoscopic systems previously inaccessible.

Simultaneous Boost of SF ₆ Adsorption Capacity and Kinetics Through Isoreticular Functionalization of Zinc(II)‐Pyrazolate Frameworks

ABSTRACT The capture of sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ), the most potent greenhouse gas, is of critical importance. Enhancement of dynamic SF 6 capture capacity presents significant challenges due to its chemical inertness and low concentration in industrial effluent streams. Herein, we demonstrate that the isoreticular functionalization of zinc‐pyrazolate metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) enables simultaneous enhancement of both SF 6 adsorption capacity and uptake kinetics. Through replacement of benzene with pyridine in the ligand, BUT‐125 (BUT: Beijing University of Technology) achieves a record‐high SF 6 adsorption capacity of 3.57 mmol cm −3 at 0.1 bar and 298 K, representing a 27% improvement over its structural analogue Zn‐DPB (DPB: 1,3‐di(pyrazolate‐4‐yl)benzene). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that pyridine functionalization increases the positive charge density on hydrogen atoms within molecular trap sites, strengthening C─H···F interactions with SF 6 molecules. Remarkably, BUT‐125 also exhibits outstanding adsorption kinetics, that combined with high equilibrium uptake, leads to an exceptional dynamic SF 6 capture capacity of 3.42 mmol cm −3 from the SF 6 /N 2 (10/90) mixture, surpassing reported porous sorbents.

Direct recycling of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries cathode active materials by hydrothermal route

Abstract At the present time, the increasing use of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles has created unprecedented pressure for end-of-life management and resource recovery. This article reports on a direct recycling approach to regenerate spent cathode active materials, in particular Ni-rich NMC622, via a hydrothermal re-lithiation strategy and thermal annealing. An initial screening process was established to separate high purity spent cathode active materials from disassembled LG Chem pouch cells from Hyundai KONA battery packs. A full factorial design was applied to provide a meaningful statistical analysis of the influence of hydrothermal variables - LiOH concentration, temperature and reaction time. The results indicate that lithium concentration and temperature have a strong main effect on regeneration efficiency, while interaction effects with time are more influential for lithium incorporation. The regenerated cathode active materials exhibited structural, morphological and electrochemical performance comparable to commercial NMC622, especially for samples treated at 160 °C, 4 M LiOH and 1 h reaction time. This process demonstrates the feasibility of regenerating degraded cathode active materials for reuse in new batteries, contributing to circular economy strategies and critical raw material independence in Europe. On the other hand, detailed material characterization validated the recovery of layered crystalline structure and localized cation mixing, conditions required for best battery performance. Regenerated electrodes retained high specific capacity during electrochemical testing and displayed good stability over 50 cycles under the conditions tested. Interactions were quantitatively significant and through the statistical analysis approach, optimal synthesis conditions were directed based on interaction limits. Against this background, the proposed method circumvents the high energy consumption and material losses of the pyrometallurgical route and the secondary pollution and reagents needed in the hydrometallurgical leaching process. In summary, direct recycling appears to be a more resource-efficient and sustainable route for the recovery of cathode materials in future battery supply chains.

Structural heterogeneity and substrate engagement mechanism of the bacterial proteasome activator Bpa

Inert Complexes Unlock Ligand‐Accelerated Transition‐Metal Catalysis on Proteins

ABSTRACT Reactions that excel in small‐molecule settings typically require metal loadings far exceeding the number of protein reaction sites (often ≥10‐fold) once transplanted into proteinaceous media—conditions that are not truly “catalytic.” Here, we show that biologically inert metal–ligand complexes based on bathocuproine disulfonic acid disodium salt (BCS) overcome this barrier and enable ligand‐accelerated catalysis (LAC) on proteins under substoichiometric conditions. For example, Ni‐BCS effects complete deprotection of green fluorescent protein bearing N ε ‐propargyloxycarbonyl‐L‐lysine (GFP‐ProcLys) at 5 mol% catalyst with an observed turnover number (TON) ≈ 20, surpassing all previously reported metal‐catalyzed depropargylation reactions. Mechanistic studies indicate that an in situ Ni–H intermediate mediates multiple transformations on proteins, including reductive deuteration of terminal alkenes/alkynes and efficient decaging across diverse amino acid side chains. Likewise, Cu‐BCS enables copper(I)‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) on proteins at 10 mol% with low residual copper and no protein oxidation, in sharp contrast to the benchmark Cu‐BTTAA (tris((1‐tert‐butyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)methyl)amine) system. These outcomes stem from a screening strategy that prioritized metal–ligand stability, eliminating metal complexes susceptible to protein sequestration and selecting strongly coordinating, physiologically inert pairs. The resulting rational ligand‐design framework for protein‐level transition‐metal catalysis expands the frontier of protein chemistry and paves the way to translate advanced small‐molecule LAC strategies onto protein substrates for posttranslational mutagenesis.

Machine learning-based assessment of offshore wind farm impacts on soft-bottom benthic communities in the Shandong Peninsula

Enhancement of signal-to-noise ratio at a high-order exceptional point of coherent perfect absorption

Palladium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Four‐Component Carbonylative Dicarbofunctionalization of Internal Alkenes With 1 Atm CO

ABSTRACT Transition metal‐catalyzed carbonylation employing CO as a C1 feedstock is fundamental for synthesizing carbonyl compounds in industrial/fine chemical synthesis. Despite the ubiquity of chiral carbonyl motifs in bioactive molecules, general methods for catalytic asymmetric carbonylation under mild conditions remain scarce, hindered by stereocontrol challenges and competing pathways. Current approaches often rely on multistep sequences or restrictive intramolecular strategies. Herein, we report palladium‐catalyzed intermolecular four‐component carbonylative dicarbofunctionalization of internal alkenes, aryl diazonium salts, and nucleophiles under 1 atm CO. This method enables simultaneous control over regio‐, diastereo‐, and enantioselectivity, efficiently constructing congested vicinal stereocenters in acyclic chiral carbonyl scaffolds. Nucleophile modularity affords diverse enantioenriched esters or ketones in high yields and stereoselectivity. The mild conditions prevent racemization of chiral carbonyls, and derivatizations highlight broad synthetic utility.