Pan-cancer analysis implicates novel insights of lactate metabolism into immunotherapy response prediction and survival prognostication.

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy has emerged as a potent clinical approach for cancer treatment, but only subsets of cancer patients can benefit from it. Targeting lactate metabolism (LM) in tumor cells as a method to potentiate anti-tumor immune responses represents a promising therapeutic strategy. METHODS: Public single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-seq) cohorts collected from patients who received immunotherapy were systematically gathered and scrutinized to delineate the association between LM and the immunotherapy response. A novel LM-related signature (LM.SIG) was formulated through an extensive examination of 40 pan-cancer scRNA-seq cohorts. Then, multiple machine learning (ML) algorithms were employed to validate the capacity of LM.SIG for immunotherapy response prediction and survival prognostication based on 8 immunotherapy transcriptomic cohorts and 30 The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) pan-cancer datasets. Moreover, potential targets for immunotherapy were identified based on 17 CRISPR datasets and validated via in vivo and in vitro experiments. RESULTS: The assessment of LM was confirmed to possess a substantial relationship with immunotherapy resistance in 2 immunotherapy scRNA-seq cohorts. Based on large-scale pan-cancer data, there exists a notably adverse correlation between LM.SIG and anti-tumor immunity as well as imbalance infiltration of immune cells, whereas a positive association was observed between LM.SIG and pro-tumorigenic signaling. Utilizing this signature, the ML model predicted immunotherapy response and prognosis with an AUC of 0.73/0.80 in validation sets and 0.70/0.87 in testing sets respectively. Notably, LM.SIG exhibited superior predictive performance across various cancers compared to published signatures. Subsequently, CRISPR screening identified LDHA as a pan-cancer biomarker for estimating immunotherapy response and survival probability which was further validated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) datasets. Furthermore, experiments demonstrated that LDHA deficiency in pancreatic cancer elevated the CD8+ T cell antitumor immunity and improved macrophage antitumoral polarization, which in turn enhanced the efficacy of immunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: We unveiled the tight correlation between LM and resistance to immunotherapy and further established the pan-cancer LM.SIG, holds the potential to emerge as a competitive instrument for the selection of patients suitable for immunotherapy.

Artificial Domain Patterning in Ultrathin Ferroelectric Films via Modifying the Surface Electrostatic Boundary Conditions.

Nanoscale spatially controlled modulation of the properties of ferroelectrics via artificial domain pattering is crucial to their emerging optoelectronics applications. New patterning strategies to achieve high precision and efficiency and to link the resultant domain structures with device functionalities are being sought. Here, we present an epitaxial heterostructure of SrRuO3/PbTiO3/SrRuO3, wherein the domain configuration is delicately determined by the charge screening conditions in the SrRuO3 layer and the substrate strains. Chemical etching of the top SrRuO3 layer leads to a transition from in-plane a domains to out-of-plane c domains, accompanied by a giant (>105) modification in the second harmonic generation response. The modulation effect, coupled with the plasmonic resonance effect from SrRuO3, enables a highly flexible design of nonlinear optical devices, as demonstrated by a simulated split-ring resonator metasurface. This domain patterning strategy may be extended to more thin-film ferroelectric systems with domain stabilities amenable to electrostatic boundary conditions.

Intracellular localized heterogeneous protein franking by a transmembrane domain of GP64 is sufficient to be assembled on budded virions of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus.

Baculovirus has been widely used for foreign protein expression in biomedical studies, and budded virus (BV) surface display has developed into an important research tool for heterogenous membrane protein studies. The basic strategy of surface display is to construct a recombinant virus where the target gene is fused with a complete or partial gp64 gene. In this study, we further investigate and develop this BV surface displaying strategy. We constructed stable insect cell lines to express the target protein flanking with different regions of signal peptide (SP) and GP64 transmembrane domain (TMD). Subsequently, recombinant BmNPV was used to infect the cell, and the integration of heterogeneous protein into BV was detected. The results indicated that deletion of the n-region of SP (SPΔn) decreased the incorporation rate more than that of the full-length SP. However, the incorporation rate of the protein fused with h and c-region deletion of SP (SPΔh-c) was significantly enhanced by 35-40 times compare to full-length SP. Moreover, the foreign protein without SP and TMD failed to display on the BV, while the integration of foreign proteins with GP64 TMD fusion at the c-terminal was significantly enhanced by 12-26 times compared to the control. Thus, these new strategies developed the BV surface display system further.

[Research on Locating Device for the Entry Point of Intramedullary Nail Based on Inertial Navigation].

Objective: To introduce a locating device for the entry point of intramedullary nail based on the inertial navigation technology, which utilizes multi-dimensional angle information to assist in rapid and accurate positioning of the ideal direction of femoral anterograde intramedullary nails' entry point, and to verify its clinical value through clinical tests. Methods: After matching the locating module with the developing board, which are the two components of the locating device, they were placed on the skin surface of the proximal femur of the affected side. Anteroposterior fluoroscopy was performed. The developing angle corresponding to the ideal direction of entry point was selected based on the X-ray image, and then the yaw angle of the locating module was reset to zero. After resetting, the locating module was combined with the surgical instrument to guide the insertion angle of the guide wire. The ideal direction of entry point was accurately located based on the angle guidance. By setting up an experimental group and a control group for clinical surgical operations, the number of guide wire insertion times, surgical time, fluoroscopy frequency, and intraoperative blood loss with or without the locating device was recorded. Results: Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed significant improvement in the number of guide wire insertion times, surgical time, fluoroscopy frequency, and intraoperative blood loss, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.01). Conclusion: The locating device can assist doctors in quickly locating the entry point of intramedullary nail, effectively reducing the fluoroscopy frequency and surgical time by improving the success rate of the guide wire insertion with one shot, improving surgical efficiency, and possessing certain clinical value.

Highly stabilized and efficient thermoelectric copper selenide.

The liquid-like feature of thermoelectric superionic conductors is a double-edged sword: the long-range migration of ions hinders the phonon transport, but their directional segregation greatly impairs the service stability. We report the synergetic enhancement in figure of merit (ZT) and stability in Cu1.99Se-based superionic conductors enabled by ion confinement effects. Guided by density functional theory and nudged elastic band simulations, we elevated the activation energy to restrict ion migrations through a cation-anion co-doping strategy. We reduced the carrier concentration without sacrificing the low thermal conductivity, obtaining a ZT of ∼3.0 at 1,050 K. Notably, the fabricated device module maintained a high conversion efficiency of up to ∼13.4% for a temperature difference of 518 K without obvious degradation after 120 cycles. Our work could be generalized to develop electrically and thermally robust functional materials with ionic migration characteristics.

Synergistic Combination of Sb2Si2Te6 Additives for Enhanced Average ZT and Single-Leg Device Efficiency of Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3-based Composites.

Thermoelectric materials are highly promising for waste heat harvesting. Although thermoelectric materials research has expanded over the years, bismuth telluride-based alloys are still the best for near-room-temperature applications. In this work, a ≈38% enhancement of the average ZT (300-473 K) to 1.21 is achieved by mixing Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 with an emerging thermoelectric material Sb2Si2Te6, which is significantly higher than that of most BiySb2-yTe3-based composites. This enhancement is facilitated by the unique interface region between the Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 matrix and Sb2Si2Te6-based precipitates with an orderly atomic arrangement, which promotes the transport of charge carriers with minimal scattering, overcoming a common factor that is limiting ZT enhancement in such composites. At the same time, high-density dislocations in the same region can effectively scatter the phonons, decoupling the electron-phonon transport. This results in a ≈56% enhancement of the thermoelectric quality factor at 373 K, from 0.41 for the pristine sample to 0.64 for the composite sample. A single-leg device is fabricated with a high efficiency of 5.4% at ΔT = 164 K further demonstrating the efficacy of the Sb2Si2Te6 compositing strategy and the importance of the precipitate-matrix interface microstructure in improving the performance of materials for relatively low-temperature applications.

Clinical efficiency of three-port inflatable robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in mediastinal tumor resection.

BACKGROUND: Aimed to assess clinical effect of three-port inflatable robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in mediastinal tumor resection by comparing results of the robot group with the video group. METHODS: Retrospectively analyze 179 patients diagnosed with anterior mediastinal tumor from May 2017 to August 2021. Two groups were divided according to the surgical approach, including 92 cases in the RATS group and 87 cases in the VATS group. The results were analyzed between two groups with variables of age, sex, BMI, tumor size, and diagnosis. Perioperative clinical data was gathered to compare. RESULT: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with regards to demographic data and clinical features. There were no significant differences inoperative time and duration of chest tube via RATS vs. VATS. The intraoperative blood loss was statistically significantly different among the RATS and VATS groups (75.9 ± 39.6 vs. 97.4 ± 35.8 ml p = 0.042). The postoperative stay of patients in RATS group were significantly shorter than that in VATS group (2.3 ± 1.0 vs. 3.4 ± 1.4 day p = 0.035), CONCLUSION: Three-port inflatable robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for mediastinal tumor is feasible and reliable it is more advantageous, and it provides the surgeon with advice on treatment choice.

The Remarkable Role of Indium in Synergistically Optimizing Carrier Concentration and Phase Distribution of AgCuTe-Based Materials.

Carrier regulation has proven to be an effective approach for optimizing the thermoelectric performance of materials. One common method to adjust the carrier concentration is through element doping. In the case of AgCuTe-based materials, it tends to form with cation vacancies, resulting in a high hole concentration and complex phase composition at low temperatures, which also hinders material stability. However, this also offers additional opportunities to manipulate the carrier concentration. In this study, the improved performance of AgCuTe through indium doping is reported, which leads to a reduction in hole concentration. In combination with a significant increase in the effective mass of the carriers, the enhanced Seebeck coefficient is also realized. Particularly, a notable improvement in power factor is observed in the hexagonal phase near room temperature. Furthermore, a lower electron thermal conductivity is achieved, contributing to an average figure of merit value of ≈1.21 (between 523 and 723 K). Additionally, the presence of indium inhibits the formation of the second phase and ensures a homogeneous phase distribution, which reduces the instability arising from phase transition. This work significantly enhances the potential of AgCuTe-based materials for low to medium-temperature applications.

Giant electric field-induced second harmonic generation in polar skyrmions.

Electric field-induced second harmonic generation allows electrically controlling nonlinear light-matter interactions crucial for emerging integrated photonics applications. Despite its wide presence in materials, the figures-of-merit of electric field-induced second harmonic generation are yet to be elevated to enable novel device functionalities. Here, we show that the polar skyrmions, a topological phase spontaneously formed in PbTiO3/SrTiO3 ferroelectric superlattices, exhibit a high comprehensive electric field-induced second harmonic generation performance. The second-order nonlinear susceptibility and modulation depth, measured under non-resonant 800 nm excitation, reach ~54.2 pm V-1 and ~664% V-1, respectively, and high response bandwidth (higher than 10 MHz), wide operating temperature range (up to ~400 K) and good fatigue resistance (>1010 cycles) are also demonstrated. Through combined in-situ experiments and phase-field simulations, we establish the microscopic links between the exotic polarization configuration and field-induced transition paths of the skyrmions and their electric field-induced second harmonic generation response. Our study not only presents a highly competitive thin-film material ready for constructing on-chip devices, but opens up new avenues of utilizing topological polar structures in the fields of photonics and optoelectronics.

Robot-assisted thoracic surgery for benign tumors at the cervicothoracic junction: a propensity-matched study.

This study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) for resecting benign tumors of the cervicothoracic junction. Between 2017 and 2021, a total of 54 patients with benign cervicothoracic junction tumors were included. Among them, 46 underwent RATS while 8 underwent open surgery. Using a propensity score based on four variables (age, sex, comorbidity, and tumor size). The outcomes compared included short-term outcomes such as blood loss, as well as long-term outcomes including respiratory function and patients' postoperative health-related quality of life. No operative deaths occurred in this study. RATS was associated with less intraoperative blood loss (102 < 380 ml, P = 0.001) and a shorter length of hospital stay (1.8 < 4.8, P < 0.001). After a median follow-up of 37 months, no recurrences were reported, and no statistically significant differences were found in the 3-year survival between the two groups. The postoperative respiratory function of patients with open surgery showed a significant decrease compared to preoperative levels and were lower than those of RATS patients. In terms of health-related quality of life, RATS was associated with a better mean EQ-5D-5L index than open surgery (0.808 > 0.650, P < 0.05). In RATS, tumor sizes > 5 cm (mean ± SD = 0.768 ± 0.111, P = 0.028) and neurogenic tumors (mean ± SD = 0.702 ± 0.082, P < 0.001) remained significantly and independently associated with a lower EQ-5D-5L index. This study demonstrated that robot-assisted thoracic surgery for benign tumors of the cervicothoracic junction is a safe and technically feasible procedure, particularly for tumors < 5 cm and non-neurogenic tumors.

A parathyroid hormone related supramolecular peptide for multi-functionalized osteoregeneration.

Supramolecular peptide nanofiber hydrogels are emerging biomaterials for tissue engineering, but it is difficult to fabricate multi-functional systems by simply mixing several short-motif-modified supramolecular peptides because relatively abundant motifs generally hinder nanofiber cross-linking or the formation of long nanofiber. Coupling bioactive factors to the assembling backbone is an ideal strategy to design multi-functional supramolecular peptides in spite of challenging synthesis and purification. Herein, a multi-functional supramolecular peptide, P1R16, is developed by coupling a bioactive factor, parathyroid hormone related peptide 1 (PTHrP-1), to the basic supramolecular peptide RADA16-Ⅰ via solid-phase synthesis. It is found that P1R16 self-assembles into long nanofibers and co-assembles with RADA16-Ⅰ to form nanofiber hydrogels, thus coupling PTHrP-1 to hydrogel matrix. P1R16 nanofiber retains osteoinductive activity in a dose-dependent manner, and P1R16/RADA16-Ⅰ nanofiber hydrogels promote osteogenesis, angiogenesis and osteoclastogenesis in vitro and induce multi-functionalized osteoregeneration by intramembranous ossification and bone remodeling in vivo when loaded to collagen (Col) scaffolds. Abundant red blood marrow formation, ideal osteointegration and adapted degradation are observed in the 50% P1R16/Col scaffold group. Therefore, this study provides a promising strategy to develop multi-functional supramolecular peptides and a new method to topically administrate parathyroid hormone or parathyroid hormone related peptides for non-healing bone defects.

Textured Asymmetric Membrane Electrode Assemblies of Piezoelectric Phosphorene and Ti3C2Tx MXene Heterostructures for Enhanced Electrochemical Stability and Kinetics in LIBs.

Black phosphorus with a superior theoretical capacity (2596 mAh g-1) and high conductivity is regarded as one of the powerful candidates for lithium-ion battery (LIB) anode materials, whereas the severe volume expansion and sluggish kinetics still impede its applications in LIBs. By contrast, the exfoliated two-dimensional phosphorene owns negligible volume variation, and its intrinsic piezoelectricity is considered to be beneficial to the Li-ion transfer kinetics, while its positive influence has not been discussed yet. Herein, a phosphorene/MXene heterostructure-textured nanopiezocomposite is proposed with even phosphorene distribution and enhanced piezo-electrochemical coupling as an applicable free-standing asymmetric membrane electrode beyond the skin effect for enhanced Li-ion storage. The experimental and simulation analysis reveals that the embedded phosphorene nanosheets not only provide abundant active sites for Li-ions, but also endow the nanocomposite with favorable piezoelectricity, thus promoting the Li-ion transfer kinetics by generating the piezoelectric field serving as an extra accelerator. By waltzing with the MXene framework, the optimized electrode exhibits enhanced kinetics and stability, achieving stable cycling performances for 1,000 cycles at 2 A g-1, and delivering a high reversible capacity of 524 mAh g-1 at - 20 â„ƒ, indicating the positive influence of the structural merits of self-assembled nanopiezocomposites on promoting stability and kinetics.

FPGA-based CCD signal acquisition and transmission system design.

In order to facilitate the analysis and processing of optical signals, an FPGA-based CCD signal acquisition and data transmission system is designed in this work. The system uses an FPGA as the main control device, the TCD1304DG/AP chip as the optical signal detector, and the CYUSB3KIT-003 development board product by Cypress for data transmission. Verilog and Python languages are employed for modular design and on-board verification. Through the coordination of each module, the system successfully achieves CCD signal data acquisition and transmission.

Molecular mechanism of Achyranthis bidentatae radix and Morindae officinalis radix in osteoporosis therapy: An investigation based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations.

Objective: To investigate the targets and mechanism of Achyranthis bidentatae radix and Morindae officinalis radix (ABR-MOR) for the treatment of osteoporosis (OP) by utilizing network pharmacology, molecular docking technology (MDT) and molecular dynamics simulation (MDS). Methods: The main drug active ingredients (DAIs) and target genes of ABR-MOR were screened by the TCMSP database. The relevant targets of OP were obtained from GeneCards, DisGeNET, and CTD databases. Venny mapping is used to determine the potential target of ABR-MOR in the treatment of OP. The potential targets were analyzed using a protein‒protein interaction network and the MCODE module, and were subjected to GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. The binding sites and conditions of potential key DAIs and core targets were verified through MDT and MDS. Result: The 32 DAIs and 212 targets of ABR-MOR were screened; 1453 OP-related targets were obtained, and 118 targets were mapped. The results of GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the targets of DAIs-OP were mainly enriched in biological processes such as response to hormones, peptides, oxygen levels and reactive oxygen species, and positive regulation of cell migration. The main signaling pathways enriched in the regulation of the immune-inflammatory response, cell proliferation, senescence, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and estrogen signaling pathway. Additionally, the targets were also enriched in bone metabolism-related cell differentiation biological processes and the osteoclast differentiation signaling pathway. MDT and MDS results showed that wogonin, beta-sitosterol, and americanin A, the core DAIs of ABR-MOR, were able to form good ligand‒protein complexes with key targets such as PTGS2, PTGS1, PRKACA, PGR, MAPK1, AKT1, and RELA. Conclusion: This study preliminarily investigated the key targets, biological processes, and signaling pathways involved in the combined application of ABR and MOR for the treatment of OP. The results revealed that ABR-MOR may play a therapeutic role mainly by regulating immune-inflammatory responses, cellular biological processes, and osteoblast differentiation, which provides a theoretical basis for further experimental validation and a new strategy for the treatment of OP.

Robotic-assisted wire saw resection of high-position rib tumors: a single-center experience.

Background: Rib tumors are typically curable through rib resection, associated with an excellent prognosis. Although transthoracic robotic first rib resection for thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) has been previously documented, this paper presents our experience and technique in conducting robotic-assisted wire saw resections for high-position rib tumors. Methods: From January 2019 to May 2022, five patients diagnosed with high-position rib tumors underwent robotic-assisted wire saw resections. For our entire portal approach, we employed two 8-mm working ports, a 12-mm camera port, and a 12-mm assistant port. Data regarding the short-term and clinical long-term treatment effects were collected. Results: The median operation time was 124.2 minutes (range, 87-185 minutes), with no observed complications. The average intraoperative blood loss was 185 mL (range, 85-410 mL). Chest tubes were typically removed between 1 and 3 days post-operation. The average hospital stay post-surgery was 2.8 days, with a range of 2-5 days. We observed no relevant intraoperative or postoperative complications. No recurrence was reported during routine follow-ups 12 months post-surgery. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the technique of robotic-assisted wire saw resection for high-position rib tumors is both feasible and reliable. This provides valuable insights for surgeons to consider robotic-assisted resection for high-position rib tumors.

Enhancing Thermoelectric Performance in P-Type Sb2 Te3 -Based Compounds Through Nb─Ag Co-Doping with Donor-Like Effect.

P-type Sb2 Te3 has been recognized as a potential thermoelectric material for applications in low-medium temperature ranges. However, its inherent high carrier concentration and lattice thermal conductivity led to a relatively low ZT value, particularly around room temperature. This study addresses these limitations by leveraging high-energy ball milling and rapid hot-pressing techniques to substantially enhance the Seebeck coefficient and power factor of Sb2 Te3 , yielding a remarkable ZT value of 0.55 at 323 K due to the donor-like effect. Furthermore, the incorporation of Nb─Ag co-doping increases hole concentration, effectively suppressing intrinsic excitations ≈548 K while maintaining the favorable power factor. Simultaneously, the lattice thermal conductivity can be significantly reduced upon doping. As a result, the ZT values of Sb2 Te3 -based materials attain an impressive range of 0.5-0.6 at 323 K, representing an almost 100% improvement compared to previous research endeavors. Finally, the ZT value of Sb1.97 Nb0.03 Ag0.005 Te3 escalates to 0.92 at 548 K with a record average ZT value (ZTavg ) of 0.75 within the temperature range of 323-573 K. These achievements hold promising implications for advancing the viability of V-VI commercialized materials for low-medium temperature application.

Pancreatic index: A prognostic factor of upfront surgery for body or tail pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with vascular involvement-A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The pancreatic index (PI) is a useful preoperative imaging predictor for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In this retrospective study, we determined the predictive effect of PI to distinguish patients of pancreatic body/tail cancer (PBTC) with vascular involvement who can benefit from upfront surgery. METHOD: All patients who received distal pancreatectomy for PDAC from 2016 to 2020 at the Pancreatic Disease Center, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine were considered for the study. A total of 429 patients with PBTC were assessed in relation to the value of PI. Fifty-five patients were eventually included and divided into low PI group and 29 patients in the normal PI group. RESULTS: The median overall survival (mOS) was significantly shorter in the low PI group (13.1 vs. 30.0 months, p = 0.002) in this study, and PI ≥ 0.78 (OR = 0.552, 95% CI: 0.301-0.904, p = 0.020) was an independent influencing factor confirmed by multivariate analysis. Subgroup analysis showed that PI was an independent prognostic factor for LA-PBTC (OR = 0.272, 95% CI: 0.077-0.969, p = 0.045). As for BR PBTC, PI (OR = 0.519, 95% CI: 0.285-0.947, p = 0.033) combined with carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) (OR = 2.806, 95% CI: 1.206-6.526, p = 0.017) and chemotherapy (OR = 0.327, 95% CI: 0.140-0.763, p = 0.010) were independent factors. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the PI can be used as a predictive factor to optimize the surgical indication for PBTC with vascular involvement. Preoperative patients with normal PI and CA125 can achieve a long-term prognosis comparable to that of resectable PBTC patients.

Wide-temperature-range thermoelectric n-type Mg3(Sb,Bi)2 with high average and peak zT values.

Mg3(Sb,Bi)2 is a promising thermoelectric material suited for electronic cooling, but there is still room to optimize its low-temperature performance. This work realizes >200% enhancement in room-temperature zT by incorporating metallic inclusions (Nb or Ta) into the Mg3(Sb,Bi)2-based matrix. The electrical conductivity is boosted in the range of 300-450 K, whereas the corresponding Seebeck coefficients remain unchanged, leading to an exceptionally high room-temperature power factor >30 µW cm-1 K-2; such an unusual effect originates mainly from the modified interfacial barriers. The reduced interfacial barriers are conducive to carrier transport at low and high temperatures. Furthermore, benefiting from the reduced lattice thermal conductivity, a record-high average zT > 1.5 and a maximum zT of 2.04 at 798 K are achieved, resulting in a high thermoelectric conversion efficiency of 15%. This work demonstrates an efficient nanocomposite strategy to enhance the wide-temperature-range thermoelectric performance of n-type Mg3(Sb,Bi)2, broadening their potential for practical applications.

CRISPR-powered optothermal nanotweezers: Diverse bio-nanoparticle manipulation and single nucleotide identification.

Optothermal nanotweezers have emerged as an innovative optical manipulation technique in the past decade, which revolutionized classical optical manipulation by efficiently capturing a broader range of nanoparticles. However, the optothermal temperature field was merely employed for in-situ manipulation of nanoparticles, its potential for identifying bio-nanoparticles remains largely untapped. Hence, based on the synergistic effect of optothermal manipulation and CRIPSR-based bio-detection, we developed CRISPR-powered optothermal nanotweezers (CRONT). Specifically, by harnessing diffusiophoresis and thermo-osmotic flows near the substrate upon optothermal excitation, we successfully trapped and enriched DNA functionalized gold nanoparticles, CRISPR-associated proteins, as well as DNA strands. Remarkably, we built an optothermal scheme for enhancing CRISPR-based single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection at single molecule level, while also introducing a novel CRISPR methodology for observing nucleotide cleavage. Therefore, this innovative approach has endowed optical tweezers with DNA identification ability in aqueous solution which was unattainable before. With its high specificity and feasibility for in-situ bio-nanoparticle manipulation and identification, CRONT will become a universal tool in point-of-care diagnosis, biophotonics, and bio-nanotechnology.

N-Type Thermoelectric AgBiPbS3 with Nanoprecipitates and Low Thermal Conductivity.

Thermoelectric sulfide materials are of particular interest due to the earth-abundant and cost-effective nature of sulfur. Here, we report a new n-type degenerate semiconductor sulfide, AgBiPbS3, which adopts a Fm3̅m structure with a narrow band gap of ∼0.32 eV. Despite the homogeneous distribution of elements at the scale of micrometer, Ag2S nanoprecipitates with dimensions of several nanometers were detected throughout the matrix. AgBiPbS3 exhibits a low room-temperature lattice thermal conductivity of 0.88 W m-1 K-1, owing to the intrinsic low lattice thermal conductivity of Ag2S and the effective scattering of phonons at nanoprecipitate boundaries. Moreover, compared to AgBiS2, AgBiPbS3 demonstrates a significantly improved weighted mobility of >16 cm2 V-1 s-1 at 300 K, leading to an enhanced PF of 1.6 µW cm-1 K-2 at 300 K. The superior electrical transport in AgBiPbS3 can be attributed to the high valley degeneracy of the L point (the conduction band minimum), which is contributed by the Pb s and Pb p orbitals. Further, Ga doping is found to be effective in modulating the Fermi levels of AgBiPbS3, leading to further enhancement of PF with a PFave of 2.7 µW cm-1 K-2 in the temperature range of 300-823 K. Consequently, a relatively high ZTave of 0.22 and a peak ZT of ∼0.4 at 823 K have been achieved in 3% Ga-doped AgBiPbS3, highlighting the potential of AgBiPbS3 as an n-type thermoelectric sulfide.