Electrical monitoring of single-event protonation dynamics at the solid-liquid interface and its regulation by external mechanical forces.

Detecting chemical reaction dynamics at solid-liquid interfaces is important for understanding heterogeneous reactions. However, there is a lack of exploration of interface reaction dynamics from the single-molecule perspective, which can reveal the intrinsic reaction mechanism underlying ensemble experiments. Here, single-event protonation reaction dynamics at a solid-liquid interface are studied in-situ using single-molecule junctions. Molecules with amino terminal groups are used to construct single-molecule junctions. An interfacial cationic state present after protonation is discovered. Real-time electrical measurements are used to monitor the reversible reaction between protonated and deprotonated states, thereby revealing the interfacial reaction mechanism through dynamic analysis. The protonation reaction rate constant has a linear positive correlation with proton concentration, whereas the deprotonation reaction rate constant has a linear negative correlation. In addition, external mechanical forces can effectively regulate the protonation reaction process. This work provides a single-molecule perspective for exploring interface science, which will contribute to the development of heterogeneous catalysis and electrochemistry.

Cortical activation in elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease dementia during working memory tasks: a multichannel fNIRS study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate cortical activation and functional connectivity in the cortex during working memory (WM) tasks in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Methods: A total of 17 older adults with AD and 17 cognitively normal (CN) participants were recruited. fNIRS was utilized to monitor oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentrations in the frontotemporal lobe, while participants performed WM tasks to examine WM impairments in subjects with AD. Student's t-test for continuous variables and the chi-square test for categorical variables were used to compare the clinical and HbO variables between the AD and CN groups. Functional connectivity was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient between the time series of each channel-to-channel pair. Results: The changes in HbO concentrations and cortical activations during the WM task showed that the HbO concentration curve of the CN group was higher than that of the AD group during the encoding and maintenance phases of the WM task. Although in the brain region scale, there were no significant differences in average HbO concentrations between the two groups, many channels located in the frontal and temporal lobes showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the average HbO (channels 7 and 32) and slope HbO values (channels 7, 8, 9, 23, 30, 34, and 38) during the WM task. The average functional connectivity of the AD group was significantly lower than that of the CN group (p < 0.05). The functional connectivity was stronger in the frontopolar (FP) region than in other areas in both groups. Conclusion: This study revealed there were significant differences in HbO concentration in older adult patients with AD compared to CN during the WM task. The characteristics of HbO measured by the fNIRS technique can be valuable for distinguishing between AD and CN in older adults.

A process-based model of climate-driven xylogenesis and tree-ring formation in broad-leaved trees (BTR).

The process-based xylem formation model is an important tool for understanding the radial growth process of trees and its influencing factors. While numerous xylogenesis models for conifers have been developed, there is a lack of models available for non-coniferous trees. In this study, we present a process-based model designed for xylem formation and ring growth in broad-leaved trees, which we call the Broad-leaved Tree-Ring (BTR) model. Climate factors, including day length, air temperature, soil moisture, and vapor pressure deficit, drive daily xylem cell production (fibers and vessels) and growth (enlargement, wall deposition). The model calculates the total cell area in the simulated zone to determine the annual ring width. The results demonstrate that the BTR model can basically simulate inter-annual variation in ring width and intra-annual changes in vessel and fiber cell formation in Fraxinus mandshurica (ring-porous) and Betula platyphylla (diffuse-porous). The BTR model is a potential tool for understanding how different trees form wood and how climate change influences this process.

Regenerated cellulose films with controllable microporous structure for enhanced seed germination.

In this work, the preparation of high-performance and porous regenerated cellulose (RCNH) films for seed germination application were investigated. The films were prepared from bamboo-based cellulose carbamate-NaOH/ZnO/urea and coagulated using environmentally friendly aqueous solution of (NH4)2SO4. The results showed that the pore size of the films could be efficiently controlled by changing the concentration and temperature of the coagulation bath. In a mild environment, the system remains undisturbed, resulting in slow diffusion between the solvent and coagulation bath. This allows for the cellulose molecular chains to align in parallel and self-aggregate, forming a three-dimensional network structure. Therefore, the best mechanical properties were demonstrated by a film coagulated using 5 wt% (NH4)2SO4 solution at 10 °C. This film showed excellent tensile strength of 108 MPa and high elongation at break (35 %). As compared to a plastic wrap, the film demonstrated higher permeability for oxygen, and a moisture retaining ability. Due to these properties, it could be used as an agricultural film to encase and promote the growth of mung bean seeds. Moreover, the film was biodegradable with a short decomposition time, losing 90.75 % of its original mass after 63 days. In a summary, this work provides a route for robust, biodegradable, and permeable regenerated cellulose films with potential applications as biodegradable agricultural mulches.

Neurophysiological markers of disease severity and cognitive dysfunction in major depressive disorder: A TMS-EEG study.

Background: Transcranial magnetic stimulation-electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) is a powerful technique to study the neuropathology and biomarkers of major depressive disorder (MDD). This study investigated cortical activity and its relationship with clinical symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in MDD patients by indexing TMS-EEG biomarkers in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Methods: 133 patients with MDD and 76 healthy individuals participated in this study. Single-pulse TMS was performed on the left DLPFC to obtain TMS-evoked potential (TEP) indices. TMS-EEG waveforms and components were determined by global mean field amplitude. We used the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) to measure participants' cognitive function. Results: Patients with MDD had a lower excitatory P180 index compared to healthy controls, and P180 amplitude was negatively correlated with the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with MDD. In the MDD group, P30 amplitude was negatively associated with RBANS Visuospatial/ Constructional index and total score. Conclusions: TMS-EEG findings suggest that abnormal cortical excitation and inhibition induced by TMS on the DLPFC are associated with the severity of clinical symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in patients with MDD. P180 and P30 have the potential to serve as neurophysiological biomarkers of clinical symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in MDD patients, respectively.

Two-Dimensional Chiral Covalent Organic Frameworks with Significant Rashba-Dresselhaus Spin Splitting.

Two-dimensional (2D) nonmagnetic semiconductors with large Rashba-Dresselhaus (R-D) spin splitting hold promise for applications in electric-field-controlled spintronics. Current research primarily focuses on metal-based R-D materials. A natural question is whether significant R-D spin splitting can be realized in metal-free organic systems. In this work, through first-principles calculations, we demonstrate that 2D chiral covalent organic frameworks (CCOFs) can serve as a potential platform for designing R-D semiconductors. By constructing 2D CCOFs with benzene cores and iodine-based chiral linkers, significant spin splitting at the valence band is achieved. Particularly, with 2,2'-diiodobiphenyl linkers, the R-D energy of spin splitting is 12 meV, accompanied by a coupling constant (α) of 0.12 eVÅ. Meanwhile, the spin texture of the valence band is adjustable via tuning the chirality. Furthermore, through group substitutions, the R-D energy can be notably increased up to 32 meV and the coupling constant up to 0.4 eVÅ, comparable to metal-based R-D materials.

Association of EEG and cognitive impairment in overweight and non-overweight patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a globally prevalent, severe chronic mental disorder, with cognitive dysfunction being one of its core symptoms. Notably, overweight is exceedingly common among individuals with SCZ, and overweight can also impact cognitive function. Therefore, the relationship between overweight and cognition in SCZ is a clinical issue that is in need of research attention. METHODS: This study enrolled 77 patients with SCZ, including 36 overweight and 41 non-overweight patients. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess symptom severity, while cognitive functions were evaluated using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Electroencephalography (EEG) testing was performed, with power spectral analysis conducted across various frequency bands (δ, θ, α, ß, low γ, and high γ). RESULTS: Compared to non-overweight SCZ patients, those overweight exhibited significantly lower RBANS total and index scores in immediate memory, visuospatial/constructional abilities, and delayed memory. EEG spectral analysis revealed that overweight SCZ patients demonstrated significantly lower oscillation power ratios in the ß, low γ, and high γ frequency bands compared to their non-overweight counterparts. Correlation analyses indicated a significant positive relationship between ß wave activity and RBANS total scores among overweight SCZ patients, suggesting that reduced ß power correlates with more severe cognitive dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that overweight SCZ patients experience more severe cognitive impairments in a resting state than those who are not overweight, with significant differences in EEG spectrum observed in the ß and γ frequency bands. Additionally, our study establishes a correlation between various EEG spectrum dimensions and cognition. This research highlights the effects of overweight on cognition in individuals with SCZ. Additionally, employing EEG technology to study cognitive function in overweight SCZ patients can offer valuable electrophysiological insights.

Assessment of the causal relationship between inflammatory bowel diseases and chronic kidney diseases: A two-sample bidirectional mendelian randomization study among European population.

BACKGROUND: Kidney function can be impaired in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's diseases (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the causal relationship between IBD and chronic kidney diseases (CKD) remains unclear. METHODS: We determined the causal association between IBD and CKD by performing two-sample bidirectional mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Independent genetic variants were selected as instrumental variables (IVs) of the exposure from open-access genome-wide association studies (GWAS) among European ancestry. IVs-outcome estimates were extracted from three separate GWAS for IBD and two for CKD, respectively. Inverse-variance-weighted model was used as the primary MR method. The pleiotropic effect and heterogeneity were evaluated. For either direction, analyses were performed per outcome database and were subsequently meta-analysed. RESULTS: Genetically predicted IBD was associated with higher risk of CKD (OR: 1.045, 95% CI: 1.016-1.073, P = 0.002) by including 42 344 IBD cases and 229 164 controls. Further analyses showed genetic liability to CD increased the risk of CKD (OR: 1.057, 95% CI: 1.027-1.087, p < 0.001) whereas UC did not (OR: 0.999, 95% CI:0.969-1.031, p = 0.970). In contrast, genetically predicted CKD was not associated with IBD (OR: 1.010, 95% CI: 0.965-1.056, p = 0.676), UC (OR: 1.011, 95% CI: 0.948-1.078, p = 0.746) and CD (OR: 1.024; 95% CI: 0.963-1.089, p = 0.447). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that CD, but not UC, can increase the risk of CKD causally. CD, but not UC, can increase the risk of chronic kidney disease causally. These findings enhance our understanding of the differential impact of IBD subtypes on CKD. It may be necessary to monitor kidney function regularly in patients with CD.

Magnetic Properties of Self-Assemble Naphthalene Diimide Radical Aggregates.

The concept of creating room-temperature ferromagnets from organic radicals proposed nearly sixty years ago, has recently experienced a resurgence due to advances in organic radical chemistry and materials. However, the lack of definitive design paradigms for achieving stable long-range ferromagnetic coupling between organic radicals presents an uncertain future for this research. Here, an innovative strategy is presented to achieve room-temperature ferromagnets by assembling π-conjugated radicals into π-π stacking aggregates. These aggregates, with ultra-close π-π distances and optimal π-π overlap, provide a platform for strong ferromagnetic (FM) interaction. The planar aromatic naphthalene diimide (NDI) anion radicals form nanorod aggregates with a π-π distance of just 3.26 Å, shorter than typical van der Waals distances. The suppressed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal and emergent near-infrared (NIR) absorption of the aggregates confirm strong interactions between the radicals. Magnetic measurements of NDI anion radical aggregates demonstrate room-temperature ferromagnetism with a saturated magnetization of 1.1 emu g-1, the highest among pure organic ferromagnets. Theoretical calculations reveal that π-stacks of NDI anion radicals with specific interlayer translational slippage favor ferromagnetic coupling over antiferromagnetic coupling.

Commiphora myrrha n-hexane extract suppressed breast cancer progression through induction of G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptotic cell death by inhibiting the Cyclin D1/CDK4-Rb signaling pathway.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most frequently observed malignancies globally, yet drug development for BC has been encountering escalating challenges. Commiphora myrrha is derived from the dried resin of C. myrrha (T. Nees) Engl., and is widely adopted in China for treating BC. However, the anti-BC effect and underlying mechanism of C. myrrha remain largely unclear. Methods: MTT assay, EdU assay, and colony formation were used to determine the effect of C. myrrha n-hexane extract (CMHE) on the proliferation of human BC cells. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were assessed via flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, metastatic potential was evaluated using wound-scratch assay and matrigel invasion assay. The 4T1 breast cancer-bearing mouse model was established to evaluate the anti-BC efficacy of CMHE in vivo. RNA-sequencing analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, immunohistochemical analysis, RNA interference assay, and database analysis were conducted to uncover the underlying mechanism of the anti-BC effect of CMHE. Results: We demonstrated the significant inhibition in the proliferative capability of BC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 by CMHE. Moreover, CMHE-induced G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptosis of the above two BC cell lines were also observed. CMHE dramatically repressed the metastatic potential of these two cells in vitro. Additionally, the administration of CMHE remarkably suppressed tumor growth in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. No obvious toxic or side effects of CMHE administration in mice were noted. Furthermore, immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis demonstrated that CMHE treatment inhibited the proliferative and metastatic abilities of cancer cells, while also promoting apoptosis in the tumor tissues of mice. Based on RNA sequencing analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, and IHC assay, the administration of CMHE downregulated Cyclin D1/CDK4-Rb signaling pathway in BC. Furthermore, RNA interference assay and database analysis showed that downregulated Cyclin D1/CDK4 signaling cascade participated in the anti-BC activity of CMHE. Conclusion: CMHE treatment resulted in the suppression of BC cell growth through the stimulation of cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and the induction of apoptotic cell death via the inhibition of the Cyclin D1/CDK4-Rb pathway, thereby enhancing the anti-BC effect of CMHE. CMHE has potential anti-BC effects, particularly in those harboring aberrant activation of Cyclin D1/CDK4-Rb signaling.

The impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on the risk of immune-related pneumonitis in lung cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer, a leading cause of cancer mortality, poses significant treatment challenges. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized therapy, but it is associated with immune-related pneumonitis (IRP). This study systematically reviews and analyzes the impact of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) on the risk of IRP in lung cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy. METHODS: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines and using the PICO framework, a comprehensive search across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was conducted. Inclusion criteria encompassed peer-reviewed studies involving lung cancer patients treated with ICIs, comparing those with and without COPD. The primary outcome was the incidence and risk of IRP. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale evaluated study quality. The effect size was calculated using random or fixed-effects models based on the observed heterogeneity. We assessed the heterogeneity between studies and conducted a sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: The search identified 1026 articles, with six meeting the criteria for inclusion. Studies varied in design and geography, predominantly retrospective cohort studies. Patients with COPD had an increased risk of IRP (OR = 1.54, 95% CI [1.24, 1.92, P < 0.01). Subgroup analysis based on radiation therapy exposure (< 40% and ≥ 40%) also indicated a heightened IRP risk in COPD patients. Sensitivity analysis affirmed the robustness of the results, and publication bias was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Lung cancer patients with COPD undergoing immunotherapy have a significantly increased risk of developing IRP. This highlights the necessity for vigilant monitoring and individualized treatment strategies to improve the safety and effectiveness of immunotherapy in this group.

Modeling Functional Brain Networks for ADHD via Spatial Preservation-based Neural Architecture Search.

Modeling functional brain networks (FBNs) for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has sparked significant interest since the abnormal functional connectivity is discovered in certain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-based brain regions compared to typical developmental control (TC) individuals. However, existing models for modeling FBNs generally use dimensionality reduction techniques to process the high dimensional input data, which results in confusion and an inaccurate representation of voxel interactions between spatially close brain regions, causing misdiagnosis of the disease. To address these issues, we propose a spatial preservation-based neural architecture search (SP-NAS) for FBNs modeling in ADHD. The main work includes three-fold: 1) A spatial preservation module is designed to embed original spatial information into dimensionality reduction data, addressing the challenge of a large number of parameters in the original data and mitigating disease misdiagnosis resulting from voxel confusion between different brain regions caused by dimensionality reduction. 2) A search space using more suitable search operations is constructed to efficiently extract spatial-temporal interaction characteristics of fMRI data in ADHD while narrowing the search space. 3) Cross-regional association differences between ADHD and TC groups are explored for ADHD auxiliary diagnosis since the abnormal activation regions of ADHD relative to TC on the brain regions and the abnormal connectivity between the lesion brain regions are identified. Model validation results on the ADHD-200 dataset show that the FBNs obtained from SP-NAS not only achieve competitive results in ADHD diagnosis but also reveal abnormal connections in the lesion regions of ADHD consistent with clinical diagnosis.

Ex Vivo Surgical Removal Versus Conservative Management of Small Asymptomatic Kidney Stones in Living Donors and Long-term Kidney Transplant Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Donors with small asymptomatic kidney stones have been increasingly accepted because of organ shortages and advances in endoscopic urology. This study aims to evaluate and compare long-term living-donor kidney transplant outcomes following ex vivo surgical removal versus conservative management of donors' gifted asymptomatic stones. METHODS: Between January 2007 and December 2021, 119 kidney transplant recipients received stone-bearing kidneys, divided into the removal group (N = 63) and observation group (N = 56). We evaluated posttransplant stone events, urinary infections, kidney function, delayed graft function, length of hospital stay, and survival outcomes. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 75.5 mo, the removal group had a 10.9% lower absolute incidence of stone events (7/56 [12.5%] versus 1/63 [1.6%]; hazard ratio, 0.08; 95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.77) and a 14.3% lower absolute incidence of urinary infections (16/56 [28.6%] versus 9/63 [14.3%]; hazard ratio, 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.95) than the observation group. The removal group also showed superior kidney graft function. The 2 groups had comparable length of hospital stay (11.0 versus 12.0 d; P = 0.297) and exhibited similar delayed graft function incidence (1/56 [1.8%] versus 2/63 [3.2%]; P = 1.000) and urinary stricture incidence (1/56 [1.8%] versus 3/63 [4.8%]; P = 0.621). Graft survival (P = 0.350) and patient survival (P = 0.260) were comparable between 2 groups. Subgroup analyses in recipients who received kidneys with stones <4 mm also reported similar results. CONCLUSIONS: Ex vivo surgical removal might outperform conservative management for donors' gifted asymptomatic kidney stones, improving long-term transplant outcomes and reducing stone events without increasing perioperative complications, even for stones <4 mm.

Constrained patterning of orientated metal chalcogenide nanowires and their growth mechanism.

One-dimensional metallic transition-metal chalcogenide nanowires (TMC-NWs) hold promise for interconnecting devices built on two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides, but only isotropic growth has so far been demonstrated. Here we show the direct patterning of highly oriented Mo6Te6 NWs in 2D molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2) using graphite as confined encapsulation layers under external stimuli. The atomic structural transition is studied through in-situ electrical biasing the fabricated heterostructure in a scanning transmission electron microscope. Atomic resolution high-angle annular dark-field STEM images reveal that the conversion of Mo6Te6 NWs from MoTe2 occurs only along specific directions. Combined with first-principles calculations, we attribute the oriented growth to the local Joule-heating induced by electrical bias near the interface of the graphite-MoTe2 heterostructure and the confinement effect generated by graphite. Using the same strategy, we fabricate oriented NWs confined in graphite as lateral contact electrodes in the 2H-MoTe2 FET, achieving a low Schottky barrier of 11.5 meV, and low contact resistance of 43.7 Ω µm at the metal-NW interface. Our work introduces possible approaches to fabricate oriented NWs for interconnections in flexible 2D nanoelectronics through direct metal phase patterning.

A real-world pharmacovigilance study of polatuzumab vedotin based on the FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS).

Background: Polatuzumab vedotin, the first FDA-approved antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting CD79b, is utilized in the treatment of previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL), as well as relapsed or refractory (R/R) DLBCL. Despite its approval, concerns persist regarding the long-term safety profile of polatuzumab vedotin. This study aims to evaluate the adverse events (AEs) associated with polatuzumab vedotin since its approval in 2019, utilizing data mining strategies applied to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Methods: Signal detection employed four methodologies, including reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN), and multi-item gamma poisson shrinker (MGPS), to evaluate and quantify the signals of polatuzumab vedotin-associated AEs. Additionally, subgroup analyses based on patients age, gender, and fatal cases were conducted to investigate AEs occurrences in specific subpopulations. Results: A total of 1,521 reports listing polatuzumab vedotin as a "principal suspect (PS)" drug were collected from the FAERS database. Through concurrent compliance with four algorithms, 19 significant Standardized MedDRA Query (SMQ) AEs and 92 significant Preferred Term (PT) AEs were detected. Subgroup analyses revealed a higher incidence of PTs in male patients compared to female patients, increased likelihood of polatuzumab vedotin-associated AEs in elder patients (>65 years), and AEs with a high risk of fatal cases include: blood lactate dehydrogenase increased, cytopenia, and hydronephrosis. The median time to AEs occurrence following polatuzumab vedotin initiation was 18.5 (5∼57.75) days, with 95% of AEs occurred within 162 days. Conclusion: This study identified various AEs associated with polatuzumab vedotin, offering critical insights for clinical monitoring and risk identification in patients receiving polatuzumab vedotin therapy.

Disentangling plant- and environment-mediated drivers of active rhizosphere bacterial community dynamics during short-term drought.

Mitigating the effects of climate stress on crops is important for global food security. The microbiome associated with plant roots, the rhizobiome, can harbor beneficial microbes that alleviate stress, but the factors influencing their recruitment are unclear. We conducted a greenhouse experiment using field soil with a legacy of growing switchgrass and common bean to investigate the impact of short-term drought severity on the recruitment of active bacterial rhizobiome members. We applied 16S rRNA and 16S rRNA gene sequencing for both crops and metabolite profiling for switchgrass. We included planted and unplanted conditions to distinguish environment- versus plant-mediated rhizobiome drivers. Differences in community structure were observed between crops and between drought and watered and planted and unplanted treatments within crops. Despite crop-specific communities, drought rhizobiome dynamics were similar across the two crops. The presence of a plant more strongly explained the rhizobiome variation in bean (17%) than in switchgrass (3%), with a small effect of plant mediation during drought observed only for the bean rhizobiome. The switchgrass rhizobiome was stable despite changes in rhizosphere metabolite profiles between planted and unplanted treatments. We conclude that rhizobiome responses to short-term drought are crop-specific, with possible decoupling of plant exudation from rhizobiome responses.

Quantifying the conductivity of a single polyene chain by lifting with an STM tip.

Conjugated polymers are promising candidates for molecular wires in nanoelectronics, with flexibility in mechanics, stability in chemistry and variety in electrical conductivity. Polyene, as a segment of polyacetylene, is a typical conjugated polymer with straightforward structure and wide-range adjustable conductance. To obtain atomic scale understanding of charge transfer in polyene, we have measured the conductance of a single polyene-based molecular chain via lifting it up with scanning tunneling microscopy tip. Different from semiconducting characters in pristine polyene (polyacetylene), high conductance and low decay constant are obtained, along with an electronic state around Fermi level and characteristic vibrational mode. These observed phenomena result from pinned molecular orbital owing to molecule-electrode coupling at the interface, and weakened bond length alternation due to electron-phonon coupling inside single molecular chain. Our findings emphasize the interfacial characteristics in molecular junctions and promising properties of polyene, with single molecular conductance as a vital tool for bringing insights into the design and construction of nanodevices.

Cellulose nanocrystals-based optical organohydrogel fiber with customizable iridescent colors for strain and humidity response.

Stimuli-responsive optical hydrogels are widely used in various fields including environmental sensing, optical encryption, and intelligent display manufacturing. However, these hydrogels are susceptible to water losses when exposed to air, leading to structural damage, significantly shortened service lives, and compromised durability. This study presents mechanically robust, environmentally stable, and multi-stimuli responsive optical organohydrogel fibers with customizable iridescent colors. These fibers are fabricated by incorporating tunicate cellulose nanocrystals, alginate, and acrylamide in a glycerol-water binary system. The synthesized fibers exhibit high strength (1.38 MPa), moisture retention capabilities, and elastic properties. Furthermore, a sensor based on these fibers demonstrates high- and low-temperature resistance along with stimuli-responsive characteristics, effectively detecting changes in environmental humidity and strains. Moreover, the fiber sensor demonstrates continuous, repeatable, and quantitatively predictable moisture discoloration responses across a humidity range of 11 % and 98 %. During strain sensing, the optical-organohydrogel-based sensor demonstrates a large working strain (50 %) and excellent cycling stability, underscoring its potential for effectively monitoring a wide range of intricate human motions. Overall, the synthesized fibers and their simple fabrication method can elicit new avenues for numerous related applications including the large-scale implementation of advanced wearable technology.

Epitaxy of Monoclinic VO2 on Large-Misfit 3m Template Enabled by a Metastable Interfacial Layer.

We report the epitaxial growth of a monoclinic VO2 thin film on the CoFe2O4(111) template, assisted by an interfacial layer of the metastable orthorhombic phase. The interface between orthorhombic VO2 and CoFe2O4 is atomically sharp without noticeable interfacial diffusion. The (010)-faceted orthorhombic VO2 layer is lattice-matched to both the CoFe2O4(111) template and the monoclinic phase, although they have different surface symmetries. The occurrence of an orthorhombic VO2 thin layer significantly lowers the in-plane misfit strains of the monoclinic VO2 epilayer, along both the [100] and [001] axes. Our first-principles calculations confirm that the low-misfit orthorhombic VO2 is preferred on CoFe2O4(111) over the large-misfit monoclinic phase, at the initial growth stage. Additionally, upon increasing the film thickness to ∼8 nm, the orthorhombic phase is no longer favored, and the bulk stable monoclinic VO2 appears to minimize the free energy of the system. Moreover, we show that the metal-to-insulator transition of our VO2 epilayer can be efficiently triggered by both the temperature and Joule self-heating effect.