A monolithically integrated near-infrared imager with crystallization- and oxidation-modulated tin-lead perovskites.

The fast crystallization and facile oxidation of Sn of tin-lead (Sn-Pb) perovskites are the biggest challenges for their applications in high-performance near-infrared (NIR) photodetectors and imagers. Here, we introduce a multifunctional diphenyl sulfoxide (DPSO) molecule into perovskite precursor ink to response these issues by revealing its strong binding interactions with the precursor species. The regulated perovskite film exhibits a dense morphology, reduced defect density and prolonged carrier diffusion length.

Cullin1 orchestrates insulin/mTOR signaling to drive endocycle progression and ecdysteroid production in Drosophila prothoracic glands during critical weight attainment.

Critical weight (CW) is a key developmental threshold in insects, beyond which larvae initiate the transformation into pupae. The prothoracic gland (PG), responsible for producing ecdysteroids, plays a crucial role in controlling the timing of this transition. The nutrition dependent endocycle, a modified cell cycle that omits mitosis, coordinates the PG size and activity to influence the timing of CW attainment.

Initiating Strain Field for Mitigating Lead Leakage in Perovskite Solar Cells with Built-in Encapsulating Networks.

Despite the remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs), their unsatisfactory operational stability and lead (Pb) leakage remain major obstacles to commercialization. Nevertheless, with the Pb precipitation mechanism remaining elusive, the community has long been under the impression that preventing Pb leakage mainly lies in the out-film encapsulation. Here, that in-film reinforcement is demonstrated through the synergy of built-in chemical sealing networks encapsulating and balanced compressive strain field plays a pivotal role in elevating the thermodynamic barrier for structural dissociation, thereby preventing Pb leakage from severely damaged devices exposed to external stimuli.

The stromal vascular fraction mitigates bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis in mice by modulating vascular lesions and secreting antifibrotic factors at different stages of disease.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, leading to significant morbidity and reduced quality of life. Despite ongoing research, the underlying pathogenesis of SSc remains unclear, and treatment options are limited. Stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a naturally occurring cell population that includes mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent for various fibrotic diseases.

Nanomedicine-Driven Modulation of Reductive Stress for Cancer Therapy.

Redox balance is crucial for cellular function and adaptation to environmental changes, with its disruption playing a key role in the progression of various diseases, including cancer. While oxidative stress caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been widely studied and targeted in cancer therapies, such approaches face significant challenges within the tumor microenvironment. On the opposite end, reductive stress results from an overabundance of reducing equivalents, disrupting normal ROS-dependent signaling pathways and leading to cellular dysfunction.

Engineering bonding sites enables uniform and robust self-assembled monolayer for stable perovskite solar cells.

The efficiency of perovskite solar cells has recently been dramatically improved by a self-assembled monolayer (SAM), but forming uniform, dense and especially stable SAM remains a challenge. The hydroxyl groups on indium tin oxide (ITO) serve as the bonding sites for the SAM molecule, directly determining the distribution and anchoring stability of SAM. We developed a solution-based strategy to fully hydroxylate the ITO in as fast as 15 s.

Mercapto-functionalized scaffold improves perovskite buried interfaces for tandem photovoltaics.

Tandem photovoltaics hold great potential to surpass the efficiency limit of single-junction solar cells. Detrimental structural defects and chemical reactions at buried interfaces of subcells considerably impede the performance of integrated tandems. Here, we devise a mercapto-functionalized mesoporous silica layer as a superstructure at the buried interface to modulate the crystallisation, eliminate nanovoids, passivate defects, and suppress the oxidation of Sn(II) in the tin-lead perovskite films, contributing substantially to reduce charge carrier losses and improve stability in positive-intrinsic-negative structured devices.

Semiconductor Superstructures with Multiple Synergistic Resonances for SERS Exploring Multiplex Noncovalent Interactions.

Noncovalent interactions (NCIs) are crucial for biological bond-forming events and have significant applications across various branches of chemistry. Here, we demonstrate for the first time the identification of multiple NCIs between two interacting species using semiconductor-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. This was accomplished by designing submicrometer-sized TiO superstructures with synergistic effects of Mie and charge-transfer resonances for SERS enhancement, enabling the TiO/4-mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) system to achieve both high SERS activity and interfacial charge-transfer sensitivity.

Plasma-Generated Free Electrons Induced Perfluorooctanoic Acid Efficient Degradation at the Gas-Liquid Interface.

Low-temperature plasma, generating both reductive electrons and diverse oxidative species, has demonstrated considerable potential for the degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). However, limited understanding of electron propagation mechanisms during discharge has led previous research to focus on hydrated electrons (e) while neglecting free electrons (e). In this study, a consistent and modeled dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma was employed to degrade PFOA.

Modulating competitive adsorption of hybrid self-assembled molecules for efficient wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells and tandems.

The employment of self-assembled molecular hybrid could improve buried interface in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the interplay among hybrid self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) during the deposition process has not been well-studied. Herein, we study the interaction between co-adsorbents and commonly used SAM material, [4-(3,6-dimethyl-9H-carbazol-9-yl)butyl]phosphonic acid (Me-4PACz) for wide-bandgap (WBG) PSCs.

Prognostic implications and characterization of tumor-associated tertiary lymphoid structures genes in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the most aggressive cancers, with rising incidence and limited responsiveness to immunotherapy due to its highly suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), ectopic formation structures of immune cells, are linked to better prognosis and improved immunotherapy responses in PDAC. Understanding TLS's role in PDAC could enhance immunotherapy effectiveness.

Focal adhesion in the tumour metastasis: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic targets.

The tumour microenvironment is the "hotbed" of tumour cells, providing abundant extracellular support for growth and metastasis. However, the tumour microenvironment is not static and is constantly remodelled by a variety of cellular components, including tumour cells, through mechanical, biological and chemical means to promote metastasis. Focal adhesion plays an important role in cell-extracellular matrix adhesion.

Mannose-Glycated Metal-Phenolic Microcapsules Orchestrate Phenotype Switch of Macrophages for Boosting Tumor Immunotherapy.

Microcapsules are advancing in immunotherapy, with both their core and shell being capable of loading immunoregulatory substances. Notably, microcapsules with intrinsic bioactivities can more directly modulate the immune microenvironment, while current research in this area remains scarce. Herein, immunomodulatory metal-phenolic microcapsules (mMPMs) is developed through the one-step assembly of dopamine-modified hyaluronic acid (HADA) and Fe onto mannose-glycated bovine serum albumin microbubbles (Man-BSA MBs).

Microwave-Responsive Engineered Platelet Microneedle Patch for Deep Tumor Penetration and Precision Therapy.

Controllable and precise delivery of therapeutic agents is critical for effective tumor therapy. However, tumor targeting and the deep penetration of drugs remain among the most challenging issues in achieving controlled delivery. Herein, a novel engineered platelet microneedle patch with a microwave-responsive magnetic biometal-organic framework is proposed to facilitate the combination of the engineered platelet and microwave hyperthermia, enhancing deep drug penetration into tumors and enabling precision therapy.

Neuron Modulation by Synergetic Management of Redox Status and Oxidative Stress.

The transient receptor potential (TRP) channel is a key sensor for diverse cellular stimuli, regulating the excitability of primary nociceptive neurons. Sensitization of the TRP channel can heighten pain sensitivity to innocuous or mildly noxious stimuli. Here, reversible modulation of TRP channels is achieved by controlling both the light-induced photoelectrochemical reaction to induce neuronal depolarization, and antioxidants for neuronal protection.

Steering perovskite precursor solutions for multijunction photovoltaics.

Multijunction photovoltaics (PVs) are gaining prominence owing to their superior capability of achieving power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) beyond the radiative limit of single-junction cells, for which improving narrow-bandgap (NBG) tin-lead perovskites is critical for thin-film devices. Here, with a focus on understanding the chemistry of tin-lead perovskite precursor solutions, we find that Sn(II) species dominate interactions with precursors and additives and uncover the exclusive role of carboxylic acid in regulating solution colloidal properties and film crystallization and ammonium in improving film optoelectronic properties. Materials that combine these two functional groups, amino acid salts, considerably improve the semiconducting quality and homogeneity of perovskite films, surpassing the effect of the individual functional groups when introduced as part of separate molecules.

Single-pixel imaging robust to arbitrary translational motion.

Single-pixel imaging (SPI) stands out in computational imaging for its simplicity and adaptability, yet its performance has been hampered by artifacts from translational motion. Existing solutions heavily rely on accurate motion modeling, requiring additional hardware and computational costs. In this Letter, we propose translational motion-agnostic SPI (TMA-SPI), a novel, to the best of our knowledge, single-object SPI framework agnostic to arbitrary translational motion.

Trident-inspired fucoidan-based armor-piercing microcapsule for programmed acute pulmonary embolism treatment.

Pulmonary embolism remains the third leading cause of human mortality after malignant tumors and myocardial infarction. Commonly available thrombolytic therapeutic agents suffer from the limitations of very short half-life, inadequate targeting, limited clot penetration, and a propensity for severe bleeding. Inspired by the trident, we developed the armor-piercing microcapsule (MC), fucoidan-urokinase-S-nitrosoglutathione-polydopamine@MC (FUGP@MC), which exhibited a triple combination of photothermal, mechanical and pharmacological thrombolysis for the therapeutic treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (APE).

Prior-free 3D tracking of a fast-moving object at 6667 frames per second with single-pixel detectors.

Real-time tracking and 3D trajectory computation of fast-moving objects is a promising technology, especially in the field of autonomous driving. However, existing image-based tracking methods face significant challenges when it comes to real-time tracking, primarily due to the limitation of storage space and computational resources. Here, we propose a novel approach that enables real-time 3D tracking of a fast-moving object without any prior motion information and at a very low computational cost.

Buried interface molecular hybrid for inverted perovskite solar cells.

Perovskite solar cells with an inverted architecture provide a key pathway for commercializing this emerging photovoltaic technology because of the better power conversion efficiency and operational stability compared with the normal device structure. Specifically, power conversion efficiencies of the inverted perovskite solar cells have exceeded 25% owing to the development of improved self-assembled molecules and passivation strategies. However, poor wettability and agglomeration of self-assembled molecules cause interfacial losses, impeding further improvement in the power conversion efficiency and stability.

Synergetic conditioning via oxalic acid enhanced Fe/CaO and skeleton construct to achieve deep dewatering of sewage sludge.

Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) with highly hydrophilic groups and sludge with high compressibility are determined sludge dewaterability. Herein, Fe catalyzed calcium peroxide (CaO) assisted by oxalic acid (OA) Fenton-like process combined with coal slime was applied to improve sludge dewaterability. Results demonstrated that the sludge treated by 0.

Suppressed Phase Segregation with Small A-Site and Large X-Site Incorporation for Photostable Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells.

Wide-bandgap (WBG) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been widely used as the top cell of tandem solar cells. However, photoinduced phase segregation and high open-circuit voltage loss pose significant obstacles to the development of WBG PSCs. Here, a two-step small-size A-site and large-size X-site incorporation strategy is reported to modulate the lattice distortion and improve the film quality of WBG formamidinium-methylammonium (FAMA) perovskite films for photostable PSCs based on two-step deposition method.

NIR Light-Fuse Drug-Free Photothermal Armor-Piercing Microcapsule for Femoral Vein Thrombosis Therapy.

Acute thrombosis and its complications are leading global causes of disability and death. Existing thrombolytic drugs, such as alteplase and urokinase (UK), carry a significant bleeding risk during clinical treatments. Thus, the development of a novel thrombolysis strategy is of utmost urgency.