From NaScGaQ (Q = S, Se) to KGaInS: substitution of Sc with In to achieve doubled birefringence.

The exploration of novel compounds with new crystal and electronic structures is essential for advancing the development of functional materials. Here, three novel isomorphic quaternary alkali-metal chalcogenides, AMQ (A = Na, K; M = Sc, Ga and In; Q = S, Se), with a new structure type have been obtained by a facile reactive flux assisted boron-chalcogen solid-state method, and adopt a 3 {[MQ]} open-framework architecture with A ions occupying the cavities to balance charges. Subtle modulation of the M-Q bonds induces a twofold enhancement in optical birefringence (Δ), observed from NaScGaQ (Q = S, Δ = 0.

KNaZrF(HO): A Hydrated Zirconium Fluoride with a Second-Harmonic Generation Effect and a Short Ultraviolet Cutoff Edge Induced by Cosubstitution with Heterovalent Cations.

The development of nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal materials with short ultraviolet cutoff edges is of great significance to laser applications and industrial development. Based on acentric AE-M-F (SrZrF (), CaZrF (), and CaHfF (), with AE = alkaline earth metal and M = Zr, Hf), a novel hydrated zirconium-based fluoride, KNaZrF(HO) (), was obtained through a cosubstitution strategy involving mixed alkali metal cations. KNaZrF(HO) crystallizes in the 2 space group and presents a unique three-dimensional {[ZrF(HO)]} anion framework composed of hydrogen-bonded {[ZrF(HO)]} chains.

From Centrosymmetric EuGaS to Noncentrosymmetric EuMgGaS via Introduction of Distorted MgS Octahedron: Featuring Wide Bandgap and Nonlinear Optical Activity.

Rare-earth chalcogenides have emerged as promising materials for infrared nonlinear optical (IR NLO) applications owing to their exceptional physicochemical properties. In this work, the introduction of distorted [MgS] octahedra into the parent EuGaS induces a centrosymmetric to noncentrosymmetric structural transformation, leading to the successful synthesis of novel EuMgGaS (EMGS). Its structure is composed of [EuS] triangular prisms, [MgS] octahedra, and [GaS] tetrahedra, among which the [MgS] octahedra show the largest distortion degree.

A novel nanoparticle vaccine, based on S1-CTD, elicits robust protective immune responses against porcine deltacoronavirus.

Unlabelled: Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), an emerging swine pathogen causing severe enteric disease in piglets, poses cross-species transmission risks, including humans. The C-terminal domain (CTD) of its spike protein harbors a key receptor-binding region with antigenic specificity and cross-protective potential. Here, we developed a novel nanoparticle-based CTD vaccine (CTDnps) by conjugating PDCoV S1-CTD to bacteriophage AP205 capsids, leveraging subunit vaccine advantages in safety, scalability, and affordability, to address urgent needs for PDCoV control.

A biodegradable chitosan-CMC-silk fibroin hydrogel enhances soil water retention and wheat growth in saline-alkali soil.

Enhancing water retention and crop productivity in widespread, challenging saline-alkali soils necessitates sustainable amendment strategies. This study reports the development and evaluation of a novel biodegradable hydrogel synthesized from natural polymers-chitosan (CS) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-utilizing silk fibroin (SF) self-assembly for physical crosslinking, thereby avoiding toxic chemical agents. The resulting CS-CMC-SF hydrogel possessed a hierarchical porous structure (BET surface area ~ 163 m/g), exhibited high equilibrium water absorbency (~130-144 g/g in deionized water), demonstrated favorable swelling stability under relevant pH and salinity conditions, possessed thermal stability up to approximately 200 °C, and showed ready biodegradability (~78 % weight loss in 14 days soil burial).

Xanthosine alleviates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury through attenuation of cardiomyocyte ferroptosis.

Background: Ischemic heart disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury significantly contributing to cardiomyocyte death and poor outcomes post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Emerging evidence highlights metabolic changes during myocardial injury, particularly in purine metabolism. This study investigates the protective role of xanthosine (XTS), a purine metabolism intermediate, in alleviating I/R injury.

Optimizing the Hydrogen-Bond Network Drives Cadmium Ce(IV) Fluoride Hydrate with Significantly Enhanced Optical Anisotropy.

The controlled engineering of ordered crystal structures has emerged as a powerful strategy for the development of functional materials with enhanced optical properties. Herein, three novel cadmium Ce(IV) fluoride hydrates─CdCeF(HO), CdCeF(HO), and CdCeF(HO)─have been obtained by simple hydrothermal methods. Birefringence calculations reveal a progressive increase in Δ values: 0.

Amino acid mutations of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) capsid protein increase virus binding to host and evade immune responses: An evaluation of viral evolution.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), the causative agent of porcine circovirus-associated diseases (PCVAD), has caused huge economic losses in the swine industry. Despite a worldwide disease distribution and numerous reports of the field epidemiology of PCV2, the molecular epidemiology and genetic evolution of PCV2 are not well characterized. In this study, 72 complete genomes of PCV2 strains sequenced from 2016 to 2022 in China were produced; phylogenetic analyses demonstrated three genotypes (PCV2a, PCV2b, and PCV2d).

Cation Equivalent Multisubstitution Realizing Structure Transformation and Balanced Nonlinear Optical Performance of Quaternary Eu-Based Chalcogenides.

Rare-earth (RE) elements play an important role in constructing nonlinear optical (NLO) materials in view of their capability of creating acentric coordination polyhedra with anions. Here, two new RE chalcogenides EuCdSnQ (Q = S (), Se ()) were successfully synthesized by the facile metal oxide-boron-chalcogen/reactive flux hybrid solid-state method by taking EuZnGeS () as the parent via two-site equivalent cosubstitution. They crystallize with the orthorhombic noncentrosymmetric space group 2, different from the centrosymmetric structure of .

Edge-Specific Confined Construction of an Interfacial Re-O-Co Bridge for Enhanced Trifunctional Electrocatalysis.

The limited abundance of edge sites in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) has hindered their utilization despite their superior electrocatalytic activity. Here, we propose an edge-oriented modification strategy by precisely confining ultrafine CoO nanoclusters on the edges of ReS via interfacial Re-O-Co chemical bridging (CoO@ReS). Unlike conventional surface modifications, this chemical bonding confinement enables selective edge growth, enhancing charge transfer and optimizing the electronic structure.

From Orthorhombic CuGeS to Cubic CuHgGeS: Second-Harmonic Generation and Photocurrent Responses.

A new noncentrosymmetric sulfide, CuHgGeS (CHGS), has been successfully synthesized via a heterovalent substitution strategy based on argyrodite-type CuGeS (CGS). Benefiting from the substitution of Cu with Hg cation, the structure changes from orthorhombic 2 to cubic 23. CHGS exhibits obvious nonlinear optical (NLO) activity, while CGS not.

Monocarboxylic Acid Structural Analogues Facilitate In Situ Composite of Functional Complexes for Aqueous Batteries.

In situ composite methods have aroused research interest in materials science and acted as a novel strategy to achieve structural tailoring of materials. However, the controllable preparation of composites containing functional groups remains a challenge. Herein, we report an approach based on competitive coordination between structural analogs, by which the functionally composite metal complex (NiSH@Ni-FSA) was synthesized.

Designing Polar Covalent Hybrid Cadmium-Based Chalcohalides Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Crystal with Strong Optical Anisotropy via Double-Site Dual FBUs Tailoring.

The pressing demand for both established and innovative technologies to expand laser wavelengths has rendered high-performance nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals with large optical anisotropy indispensable. Here, centrosymmetric [SHC(NH)]CdBr (1) and pseudo-2D layered [SC(NH)]CdBr (2), as well as pseudo-3D noncentrosymmetric [SC(NH)]CdCl (3) are successfully synthesized through the introduction of π-conjugated SC(NH) groups. Compared to ionic compound 1 containing full-halogen coordination tetrahedra, covalent compounds 2 and 3 featuring novel polar [SC(NH)]CdX (X = Br, Cl) tetrahedral units demonstrate enhanced bandgaps (>4 eV) and birefringences (>0.

Rare-Earth Substitution Induced Symmetry Breaking for The First Sc-Based Nonlinear Optical Chalcogenide with High-Performance.

Chalcogenides are the most important infrared nonlinear optical (NLO) material candidates, and the exploration of high-performance ones is attractive and challengeable. Hitherto, there is no NLO scandium (Sc) chalcogenides experimentally studied. Here, new quaternary Sc thiophosphate CsScPS (CSPS) was synthesized by the facile metal oxide-boron-sulfur/reactive flux hybrid solid-state method.

Integrated electro-optic modulator on a lead zirconate titanate-silicon nitride heterogeneous platform.

Integrated electro-optic (EO) modulators are the core components of the optoelectronic information technology, and lithium niobate is currently the most widely used crystalline thin film material; however, finite EO coefficients limit the modulation efficiency of the modulators. In this Letter, we present an integrated EO modulator using a microring resonator on the lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and silicon nitride (SiN) heterogeneous platform. The microwave attenuation is reduced by using low loss tangent and dielectric constant SiN as the electrode substrate, achieving an EO bandwidth of 33 GHz.

Interfacial Regulation of Rice-Grain-like Iron-Nickel Phosphide Nanorods on Phosphorus-Doped Graphene Architectures as Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting.

The design of bimetallic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with a hierarchical structure is important to improve the electrocatalytic performance of catalysts due to their synergistic effect on different metal ions. In this work, the catalyst comprises bimetallic iron-nickel MOF-derived FeNi phosphides, intricately integrated with phosphorus-doped reduced graphene oxide architectures (FeNiP-C/P-rGA) through the hydrothermal and phosphating treatments. The hierarchical architecture of the catalyst is beneficial for exposing active sites and facilitating electron transfer.

Phase-Matching Second-Harmonic Generation and Enhanced Laser-Induced Damage Threshold Induced by Cs Substitution: CuPSe vs CsCuPS.

Chalcophosphates are an important type of infrared nonlinear optical (NLO) candidates in view of their rich anionic motifs. Here, two copper chalcophosphates CuPSe (CPSe) and CsCuPS (CCPS) were synthesized and studied as IR NLO materials. They both feature three-dimensional polyanionic frameworks constructed by similar T2-supertetrahedra, and the structure of CCPS can be derived from CPSe via introducing Cs and substituting Se with S.

Optimized Ginkgo leaf biochar: An efficient adsorbent for 2,4-D herbicide removal from wastewater.

This research exploited biochar, sourced from Ginkgo leaves (GLs), to facilitate the adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in aqueous environments. The results reveal that GL biochar, activated with ZnCl at a temperature of 500°C (500-ZGBC), demonstrated the greatest specific surface area (S) of 536.0 m g for 2,4-D adsorption.

Nationwide Investigation on Organophosphate Flame Retardants in Tea from China: Migration from Packaging Materials and Implications for Global Risk Assessment.

In this study, we measured 15 common organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in six categories of tea samples across China. OPFRs were found in all the tea samples, with the total concentrations of OPFRs (∑OPFRs) at 3.44-432 ng/g [geometric mean (GM): 17.

Ambient Synthesis of Vanadium-Based Prussian Blue Analogues Nanocubes for High-Performance and Durable Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries with Eutectic Electrolytes.

Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) have been widely studied in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) due to the characteristics of large specific surface area, open aperture, and straightforward synthesis. In this work, vanadium-based PBA nanocubes were firstly prepared using a mild in situ conversion strategy at room temperature without the protection of noble gas. Benefiting from the multiple-redox active sites of V/V, V/V, and Fe/Fe, the cathode exhibited an excellent discharge specific capacity of 200 mAh g in AZIBs, which is much higher than those of other metal-based PBAs nanocubes.

Enabling Gradient-Structured Solid Electrolyte Interphase by a Hydrated Eutectic Electrolyte for High-Performance Zn Metal Batteries.

Aqueous Zn metal batteries are attracting tremendous interest as promising energy storage systems due to their intrinsic safety and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, the reversibility of Zn metal anodes (ZMAs) is hindered by water-induced parasitic reactions and dendrite growth. Herein, a novel hydrated eutectic electrolyte (HEE) consisting of Zn(BF)·xHO and sulfolane (SL) is developed to prevent the side reactions and achieve the outstanding cyclability of ZMAs.

Fabrication of nitrogen-doped carbon dots biomass composite hydrogel for adsorption of Cu (II) in wastewater or soil and DFT simulation for adsorption mechanism.

With the increase of Cu (II) content, its bioaccumulation becomes a potential pollution to the environment. It is necessary to design an economical and efficient material to remove Cu (II) without causing other environmental hazards. A novel material of alginate composite bead (ALG@NCDs) was synthesized by embedding N-doped carbon dots into pure alginate bead for the adsorption of Cu (II) from wastewater and contaminated soil.

Stable anode/separator interface enabled by graft modification of polypropylene separator via electron beam irradiation technique toward high-performance sodium metal batteries.

Sodium metal batteries (SMBs) are considered as strong alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), due to the inherent merits of sodium metal anodes (SMAs) including low redox potential (-2.71 V vs. SHE), high theoretical capacity (1166 mAh g), and abundant resources.

Rapid sequential detection of Al and glyphosate using an "Off-On-Off" fluorescent probe based on salicylate modified layered double hydroxides.

A fluorescent probe based on salicylate modified layered double hydroxide (LDH-SA) is presented, enabling the swift sequential detection of Al, fosetyl-Al and glyphosate in aqueous environment. The probe was synthesized using a simple co-precipitation procedure, and its properties and synthesis conditions were thoroughly characterized and optimized. A unique "off-on-off" fluorescent response was observed when the probe sequentially interacted with Al and glyphosate, and the detection method based on this phenomenon was established.

Design of Pentanary Mixed-Chalcogenides AgInSiSSe ( = 1, 2) Based on the Bucket Effect: Local Structural Difference and High-Performance Nonlinear-Optical Properties Realized by Partial Congener Substitution.

Noncentrosymmetric chalcogenides are promising candidates for infrared nonlinear-optical (NLO) crystals, and exploring high-performance ones is a hot topic and challengeable. Herein, the combination of AgQ, InQ, and SiQ (Q = S, Se) units with different S/Se ratios resulted in the discovery of the tetrahedral chalcogenides AgInSiSSe () and AgInSiSSe (). They both crystallize in the monoclinic space group with different local structures.