Browse Articles

Calibration method of driving energy for vaporizing foil actuator welding and its application

In this study, a driving energy calibration method applicable to the vaporizing foil actuator (VFA) was proposed and applied to the process of vaporizing foil actuator welding (VFAW). This method is based on a technical approach combining high-speed photography with finite element simulation: the corresponding relationship between the driving velocity and actual driving energy was established via simulation, and then the actual driving energy was derived by inversion, according to the driving velocity measured by high-speed photography. Based on the established VFA driving energy model, the enhancement effect of the water medium on the driving capacity of VFA was quantitatively revealed for the first time, with an average improvement of approximately 61.5%. Furthermore, it was analyzed that about 50% of this gain is attributed to the “medium effect” of water. Finally, the calibrated driving energy was applied to the full-process numerical modeling of VFAW, enabling the morphology prediction of the welding interface in standoff-free VFAW. The results show that the interface morphology, wave characteristics, and weld width obtained from the simulation are in good agreement with the observations by scanning electron microscopy, which verifies the reliability of the established full-process simulation model. The proposed energy calibration method can offer theoretical guidance for VFAW process optimization and interface morphology prediction.

Energy-sensing kinase OsSnRK1b and its regulator OsCTK1 promote chilling-induced stomatal closure and cold tolerance

Decoding non-faradaic signal transduction in organic electrochemical transistor based biosensors

The Plasmodium heme detoxification protein functions in mitochondrial protein synthesis

Abstract Malaria blood-stage parasites digest ~80% of host cell hemoglobin within a degradative vacuole, releasing heme that is detoxified by sequestration into hemozoin crystals. Although essential for survival and a validated drug target, the mechanisms of heme biomineralization remain unclear. Here, we study the parasite’s Heme Detoxification Protein (HDP), previously proposed to mediate hemozoin formation, using genetic, microscopic, bioenergetic, and proteomic approaches. Endogenous tagging reveals that HDP localizes to the mitochondrion, not the digestive vacuole. HDP inactivation has no effect on heme biomineralization, but causes mitochondrial depolarization, proguanil hypersensitivity, and developmental arrest, which is rescued by bypassing respiratory-chain-dependent pyrimidine biosynthesis. HDP knockout abolishes mitochondrial electron flow due to loss of complexes III and IV, consistent with impaired mitochondrial protein synthesis. Integration of structural modelling with quantitative proteomics places HDP within the mitoribosomal large subunit. Here, we show that HDP is essential for mitochondrial function and does not contribute to hemozoin formation.

Enabling molecular signaling with temperature and ionic-strength independence or programmable dependence

Abstract The equilibrium constants of chemical reactions fundamentally depend on temperature, posing challenges for living systems. However, many conformer organisms do not maintain a stable internal temperature. This raises the question: can molecular signaling pathways inherently resist temperature susceptibility? Molecular commutation is a recently discovered, fundamentally distinct mechanism of biological information processing and storage within reversible association/dissociation reactions. Here, we show that molecular commutation enables complex signaling systems that are independent of temperature and ionic strength and, even more generally, programmably dependent on these parameters. Using examples of various DNA logic gates, receptor-activator networks, and systems with complex input–output relationships (e.g., computed as algebraic functions), we demonstrate computationally that introducing compensatory reactions in these networks can render their signaling independent of temperature and ionic strength. We experimentally validate such independence for a case of a YES-logic gate. Finally, we computationally demonstrate networks with outputs that follow predefined functional forms of temperature and ionic strength (e.g., sin(T), where T is temperature). The presented intrinsic capabilities of affinity-based networks provide a remarkable homeostasis and signaling control mechanism that may be used by biological systems of arbitrarily high complexity.

Engineering N-site isomerism in donor-acceptor covalent organic frameworks for efficient Fenton-like water purification

Abstract Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as promising candidates for singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) generation via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation, yet their structure-property-activity relationships remain poorly understood. Herein, three constitutionally isomeric donor-acceptor COFs (TF-22Bpy, TA-22Bpy and TA-33Bpy) were constructed via N-site isomeric engineering, which involved precisely modulation of the imine and pyridine nitrogen positions within the skeleton. This systematically structural engineering was undertaken to unravel the fundamental effects of regioisomerism on both the electronic structure and subsequent Fenton-like catalytic activity. Among the isomers, TA-33Bpy showed the best catalytic activity for PMS activation, exhibiting an observed rate constant ( k obs ) of 0.165 min −1 . This value is substantially higher than those of TF-22Bpy (0.013 min −1 ) and TA-22Bpy (0.052 min −1 ) by factors of 12.7 and 3.2, respectively. Mechanistic investigations indicate that direct PMS-COF interaction induces charge polarization within the donor-acceptor framework, generating localized electron-deficient and electron-enriched domains that promote the coupled redox steps required for selective ¹O₂ generation. This work identifies PMS-triggered charge polarization as a key determinant of PMS activation and offers a design principle for high-performance COF catalysts for water purification.

Nuclear localization of the glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase QARS reveals its role in DNA damage response in ovarian cancer

Standardized chronic disease management reduces comorbidity risk in China

Selective and autonomous generation of singlet oxygen for synergistic heavy metal-organic removal without energy input

Bubble-triggered built-in liquid metal-based galvanic cell for gas pipeline microleak detection

Modulation of habenula axon terminals supports action-outcome associations in larval zebrafish

Giant negative photomagnetism in an alterlattice

Abstract Photomagnetism enables optical control of spin order for engineering non-equilibrium phases, yet studies remain largely confined to ferromagnetic systems. Here, we introduce the alterlattice, an emergent structural motif realized in the cation- and anion-deficient perovskite oxide La 0.4 Ca 0.4 TiO 3–δ . The alterlattice is a three-dimensional alternately patterned superstructural network arising from structural competition, in which average lattice is described by Ibmm symmetry while local superstructure relaxes toward Cmmm symmetry. Within this motif, photo-induced antiferromagnetic correlations develop below 19 K. Under 473 nm illumination, the susceptibility of the alterlattice host decreases by 51.7% at 2 K and 1 T and rapidly recovers in the dark. The observed giant negative photomagnetism is associated with anisotropic strain fields that guide defect-mediated photocarrier transport, thereby driving the system from a spin-dilute paramagnetic state toward a short-range antiferromagnetic state with quasi-one-dimensional characteristics. The alterlattice opens a route to three-dimensional defect-topology engineering for non-equilibrium phases and antiferromagnetic spintronics.

Design of a live-attenuated bacterial vaccine using effector network engineering

Abstract Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and Citrobacter rodentium (CR) are extracellular enteric attaching and effacing (A/E) pathogens of humans and mice, respectively. Their virulence relies on intimate bacterial attachment and a network of type III secretion system effectors. Here, through systematic reduction and redesign of the effector network in CR, we develop an attenuated strain, CRV (CR Vaccine), encoding a subset of ten effectors. CRV colonises C57BL/6 mice ~100-fold lower than wild type CR (CR WT ) without causing overt pathogenesis. Moreover, C3H/HeN mice, which succumb to CR WT infection, survive CRV challenge. Vaccination with CRV confers protection against subsequent CR WT infection in both mouse strains. Serological analysis reveals a repertoire of dominant CR antigens, including the O-antigen, the virulence factors intimin, EspA and Tir and the outer membrane proteins Lpp, OmpA, MetQ and CARC (an AIDA-like autotransporter). We show that CR WT and CRV immunisation elicits comparable B cell and antibody responses, which is contingent on intimate bacterial attachment. A corresponding EPEC strain ( E. coli Vaccine, ECV) effectively colonises epithelial cells in a gut-on-chip model. These findings establish effector network minimisation as a generalisable strategy for rational bacterial attenuation and live-attenuated vaccine design.

Decoupling ferroelectric polarization and charge transport for thermally robust polymer dielectric energy storage

Heat stress promotes pre-tRNA capping to modulate cap-dependent translation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Iron Oxide Photoanode for Glycerol-Assisted Hydrogen Production at 8.87 mA cm–2

Systematic profiling of growth interactions in human gut microbiome species

Abstract Microbial interactions shape the composition and stability of the human gut microbiome. Yet, few studies have systematically investigated species-species growth interactions and the mechanisms behind these. Here we show that among 36 representative gut bacterial strains, when two species interact, the interactions are mostly inhibitory. To provide biological insight into specific interactions, we further investigate the basis of a positive interaction, showing that Clostridium perfringens promotes the growth of Mediterraneibacter gnavus through extracellular vesicles. Additionally, we identify Veillonella parvula as a species capable of modulating environmental pH, thereby enabling the growth of Parabacteroides merdae , a strain highly sensitive to acidic conditions. This pH-increasing effect is enhanced by guanine supplementation and persists in multi-species communities containing different pH-lowering strains from diverse bacterial phyla. Although V. parvula is commonly present in human gut microbiomes, it is generally found at low levels. Given the spatial organization of bacteria in the gut, the local pH modulation by V. parvula might support the growth of acid-sensitive strains. Overall, the comprehensive dataset and mechanistic insights presented here provide a starting point to predict microbiome composition by integrating growth interactions.

In situ electron microscopy of LaNiO3 transformation during reduction and methane dry reforming

Abstract By in situ electron microscopy we show the intermediate phase formation during decomposition of LaNiO 3 , a model methane dry reforming (DRM) catalyst, under different gas atmospheres. By combining dark- and bright-field imaging with secondary-electron contrast and operando electronic structure characterization, we localize the coupled formation of Ni(O) particles and La 2 NiO 4 as key intermediates under DRM operation preceding full decomposition into metallic Ni and La 2 O 3 . Reduced and bar-level reactant partial pressures enable detailed observation of early decomposition stages. Ni particles formed in vacuum or DRM mixtures undergo transient surface oxidation by lattice oxygen, while highly dynamic Ni particles result from hydrogen reduction. At high temperatures, concurrent Ni formation, LaNiO 3 -to-La 2 NiO 4 transitions, Ostwald ripening, and particle fragmentation/agglomeration govern the dynamics. DRM exposure of reduction-formed Ni leads to rapid oxidation to sintering-resistant NiO with size-dependent dissolution/agglomeration characteristics. As CO 2 cannot directly oxidize Ni here, oxygen migration from the perovskite bulk drives this transient, DRM-detrimental NiO formation.

Low curvature combined with high amorphization improves SERS sensitivity of semiconducting Rh–Se mesoporous nanospheres toward non-adsorbing resistant pollutants

Near-infrared circularly polarized electroluminescence from axially chiral diplatinum(II) phosphors