Electronegative Phosphorus-Integrated Co2+ Active Sites for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction.

In the quest for proficient electrocatalysts for ammonia's electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction, cobalt oxides, endowed with a rich d-electron reservoir, have emerged as frontrunners. Despite the previously evidenced prowess of CoO in this realm, its ammonia yield witnesses a pronounced decline as the reaction unfolds, a phenomenon linked to the electron attrition from its Co2+ active sites during electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR). To counteract this vulnerability, we harnessed electron-laden phosphorus (P) elements as dopants, aiming to recalibrate the electronic equilibrium of the pivotal Co active site, thereby bolstering both its catalytic performance and stability. Our empirical endeavors showcased the doped P-CoO's superior credentials: it delivered an impressive ammonia yield of 49.6 and, notably, a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 9.6% at -0.2 V versus RHE, markedly eclipsing its undoped counterpart. Probing deeper, a suite of ex-situ techniques, complemented by rigorous theoretical evaluations, was deployed. This dual-pronged analysis unequivocally revealed CoO's propensity for an electron-driven valence metamorphosis to Co3+ post-ENRR. In stark contrast, P-CoO, fortified by P doping, exhibits a discernibly augmented ammonia yield. Crucially, P's intrinsic ability to staunch electron leakage from the active locus during ENRR ensures the preservation of the valence state, culminating in enhanced catalytic dynamism and fortitude. This investigation not only illuminates the intricacies of active site electronic modulation in ENRR but also charts a navigational beacon for further enhancements in this domain.

Epigenome-wide association study identifies DNA methylation loci associated with handgrip strength in Chinese monozygotic twins.

Background: The decline in muscle strength and function with aging is well recognized, but remains poorly characterized at the molecular level. Here, we report the epigenetic relationship between genome-wide DNA methylation and handgrip strength (HGS) among Chinese monozygotic (MZ) twins. Methods: DNA methylation (DNAm) profiling was conducted in whole blood samples through Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing method. Generalized estimating equation was applied to regress the DNAm of each CpG with HGS. The Genomic Regions Enrichment of Annotations Tool was used to perform enrichment analysis. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were detected using comb-p. Causal inference was performed using Inference about Causation through Examination of Familial Confounding method. Finally, we validated candidate CpGs in community residents. Results: We identified 25 CpGs reaching genome-wide significance level. These CpGs located in 9 genes, especially FBLN1, RXRA, and ABHD14B. Many enriched terms highlighted calcium channels, neuromuscular junctions, and skeletal muscle organ development. We identified 21 DMRs of HGS, with several DMRs within FBLN1, SLC30A8, CST3, and SOCS3. Causal inference indicated that the DNAm of 16 top CpGs within FBLN1, RXRA, ABHD14B, MFSD6, and TYW1B might influence HGS, while HGS influenced DNAm at two CpGs within FBLN1 and RXRA. In validation analysis, methylation levels of six CpGs mapped to FLBN1 and one CpG mapped to ABHD14B were negatively associated with HGS weakness in community population. Conclusion: Our study identified multiple DNAm variants potentially related to HGS, especially CpGs within FBLN1 and ABHD14B. These findings provide new clues to the epigenetic modification underlying muscle strength decline.

Dynamic bidirectional relation between state mindfulness and suicidal ideation among female college students: The moderating effect of trait mindfulness.

Research has indicated that mindfulness is a protective factor against suicidal ideation. However, the dynamic reciprocal relation between them has been understudied. In this study, 110 female college students with suicidal ideation completed a measure of trait mindfulness and a 28-day diary of suicidal ideation and three-dimensional state mindfulness, including acting with awareness, present-moment attention, and nonjudgmental acceptance. Dynamic structural equation modeling was used to examine the dynamic and bidirectional effects between dimensions of state mindfulness and suicidal ideation and the moderating effect of trait mindfulness. Results showed that suicidal ideation predicted lower levels of present-moment attention the next day. More importantly, there was a dynamic and bidirectional relation between nonjudgmental acceptance and suicidal ideation for people with trait mindfulness higher than the average level (i.e., M + 0.15SD). Our findings suggested that studies and interventions on suicide should pay more attention to specific dimensions of state mindfulness and trait mindfulness.

Oxygen tracer diffusion in amorphous hafnia films for resistive memory.

The oxygen diffusion rate in hafnia (HfO2)-based resistive memory plays a pivotal role in enabling nonvolatile data retention. However, the information retention times obtained in HfO2 resistive memory devices are many times higher than the expected values obtained from oxygen diffusion measurements in HfO2 materials. In this study, we resolve this discrepancy by conducting oxygen isotope tracer diffusion measurements in amorphous hafnia (a-HfO2) thin films. Our results show that the oxygen tracer diffusion in amorphous HfO2 films is orders of magnitude lower than that of previous measurements on monoclinic hafnia (m-HfO2) pellets. Moreover, oxygen tracer diffusion is much lower in denser a-HfO2 films deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) than in less dense a-HfO2 films deposited by sputtering. The ALD films yield similar oxygen diffusion times as experimentally measured device retention times, reconciling this discrepancy between oxygen diffusion and retention time measurements. More broadly, our work shows how processing conditions can be used to control oxygen transport characteristics in amorphous materials without long-range crystal order.

Generation of human induced pluripotent stem cell line from a patient with restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a rare cardiomyopathy characterized by diastolic dysfunction, which affects cardiac systolic function. We successfully established human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 24-year-old male with restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM). The patient-derived hiPSCs carried heterozygous mutation of CRYAB gene (c.326A > G, p.D109G), which was consistent with clinical whole exon sequencing results. We confirmed the pluripotency, multipotential differentiation and karyotype of hiPSCs. The hiPSCs will be useful for studying the pathogenesis of RCM caused by CRYAB (c.326A > G) mutation.

Immune signatures predict response to house dust mite subcutaneous immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Identifying predictive biomarkers for allergen immunotherapy response is crucial for enhancing clinical efficacy. This study aims to identify such biomarkers in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) undergoing subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) for house dust mite allergy. METHODS: The Tongji (discovery) cohort comprised 72 AR patients who completed 1-year SCIT follow-up. Circulating T and B cell subsets were characterized using multiplexed flow cytometry before SCIT. Serum immunoglobulin levels and combined symptom and medication score (CSMS) were assessed before and after 12-month SCIT. Responders, exhibiting ≥30% CSMS improvement, were identified. The random forest algorithm and logistic regression analysis were used to select biomarkers and establish predictive models for SCIT efficacy in the Tongji cohort, which was validated in another Wisco cohort with 43 AR patients. RESULTS: Positive SCIT response correlated with higher baseline CSMS, allergen-specific IgE (sIgE)/total IgE (tIgE) ratio, and frequencies of Type 2 helper T cells, Type 2 follicular helper T (TFH 2) cells, and CD23+ nonswitched memory B (BNSM ) and switched memory B (BSM ) cells, as well as lower follicular regulatory T (TFR ) cell frequency and TFR /TFH 2 cell ratio. The random forest algorithm identified sIgE/tIgE ratio, TFR /TFH 2 cell ratio, and BNSM frequency as the key biomarkers discriminating responders from nonresponders in the Tongji cohort. Logistic regression analysis confirmed the predictive value of a combination model, including sIgE/tIgE ratio, TFR /TFH 2 cell ratio, and CD23+ BSM frequency (AUC = 0.899 in Tongji; validated AUC = 0.893 in Wisco). CONCLUSIONS: A T- and B-cell signature combination efficiently identified SCIT responders before treatment, enabling personalized approaches for AR patients.

Energizing Co Active Sites via d-Band Center Engineering in CeO2 -Co3 O4 Heterostructures: Interfacial Charge Transfer Enabling Efficient Nitrate Electrosynthesis.

The electrochemical nitrogen oxidation reaction (NOR) holds significant potential to revolutionize the traditional nitrate synthesis processes. However, the progression in NOR has been notably stymied due to the sluggish kinetics of initial N2 adsorption and activation processes. Herein, the research embarks on the development of a CeO2 -Co3 O4 heterostructure, strategically engineered to facilitate the electron transfer from CeO2 to Co3 O4 . This orchestrated transfer operates to amplify the d-band center of the Co active sites, thereby enhancing N2 adsorption and activation dynamics by strengthening the Co─N bond and diminishing the resilience of the N≡N bond. The synthesized CeO2 -Co3 O4 manifests promising prospects, showcasing a significant HNO3 yield of 37.96 µg h-1 mgcat -1 and an elevated Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 29.30% in a 0.1 m Na2 SO4 solution at 1.81 V versus RHE. Further substantiating these findings, an array of in situ methodologies coupled with DFT calculations vividly illustrate the augmented adsorption and activation of N2 on the surface of CeO2 -Co3 O4 heterostructure, resulting in a substantial reduction in the energy barrier pertinent to the rate-determining step within the NOR pathway. This research carves a promising pathway to amplify N2 adsorption throughout the electrochemical NOR operations and delineates a blueprint for crafting highly efficient NOR electrocatalysts.

MarsGT: Multi-omics analysis for rare population inference using single-cell graph transformer.

Rare cell populations are key in neoplastic progression and therapeutic response, offering potential intervention targets. However, their computational identification and analysis often lag behind major cell types. To fill this gap, we introduce MarsGT: Multi-omics Analysis for Rare population inference using a Single-cell Graph Transformer. It identifies rare cell populations using a probability-based heterogeneous graph transformer on single-cell multi-omics data. MarsGT outperforms existing tools in identifying rare cells across 550 simulated and four real human datasets. In mouse retina data, it reveals unique subpopulations of rare bipolar cells and a Müller glia cell subpopulation. In human lymph node data, MarsGT detects an intermediate B cell population potentially acting as lymphoma precursors. In human melanoma data, it identifies a rare MAIT-like population impacted by a high IFN-I response and reveals the mechanism of immunotherapy. Hence, MarsGT offers biological insights and suggests potential strategies for early detection and therapeutic intervention of disease.

A Novel and Green Method for Preparing Highly Conductive PEDOT:PSS Films for Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting.

As a π-conjugated conductive polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is recognized as a promising environmentally friendly thermoelectric material. However, its low conductivity has limited applications in the thermoelectric field. Although thermoelectric efficiency can be significantly enhanced through post-treatment doping, these processes often involve environmentally harmful organic solvents or reagents. In this study, a novel and environmentally benign method using purified water (including room temperature water and subsequent warm water) to treat PEDOT:PSS film has been developed, resulting in improved thermoelectric performance. The morphology data, chemical composition, molecular structure, and thermoelectric performance of the films before and after treatment were characterized and analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), Raman spectrum, XRD pattern, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and a thin film thermoelectric measurement system. The results demonstrate that the water treatment effectively removes nonconductive PSS from PEDOT:PSS composites, significantly enhancing their conductivity. Treated films exhibit improved thermoelectric properties, particularly those treated only 15 times with room temperature water, achieving a high electrical conductivity of 62.91 S/cm, a Seebeck coefficient of 14.53 µV K-1, and an optimal power factor of 1.3282 µW·m-1·K-2. In addition, the subsequent warm water treatment can further enhance the thermoelectric properties of the film sample. The underlying mechanism of these improvements is also discussed.

Aberrant follicular regulatory T cells associate with immunoglobulin hyperproduction in nasal polyps with ectopic lymphoid tissues.

BACKGROUND: Ectopic lymphoid tissues (eLTs) and associated follicular helper T (TFH) cells contribute to local immunoglobulin hyperproduction in nasal polyps (NPs). Follicular regulatory T (TFR) cells in secondary lymphoid organs counteract TFH cells and suppress immunoglobulin production; however, the presence and function of TFR cells in eLTs in peripheral diseased tissues remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the presence, phenotype, and function of TFR cells in NPs. METHODS: The presence, abundance, and phenotype of TFR cells in NPs were examined using single-cell RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence staining, and flow cytometry. Sorted polyp and circulating T-cell subsets were cocultured with autologous circulating naïve B cells, and cytokine and immunoglobulin production were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: TFR cells were primarily localized within eLTs in NPs. TFR cell frequency and TFR cell/TFH cell ratio were decreased in NPs with eLTs compared with NPs without eLTs and control inferior turbinate tissues. TFR cells displayed an overlapping phenotype with TFH cells and FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in NPs. Polyp TFR cells had reduced CTLA-4 expression and decreased capacity to inhibit TFH cell-induced immunoglobulin production compared with their counterpart in blood and tonsils. Blocking CTLA-4 abolished the suppressive effect of TFR cells. Lower vitamin D receptor expression was observed on polyp TFR cells compared with TFR cells in blood and tonsils. Vitamin D treatment upregulated CTLA-4 expression on polyp TFR cells and restored their suppressive function in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Polyp TFR cells in eLTs have decreased CLTA-4 and vitamin D receptor expression and impaired capacity to suppress TFH cell-induced immunoglobulin production, which can be reversed by vitamin D treatment in vitro.

SIRT1 alleviates insulin resistance and respiratory distress in late preterm rats by activating QKI5-mediated PPARγ/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) is a common complication of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and late preterm births. Research suggests that SIRT1 was involved in LPS-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome, but its mechanism remains to be further explored. Here, pregnant rats were intraperitoneally injected with 45 mg/Kg streptozotocin at day 0 of gestation to induce GDM and injected with LPS at day 17 of gestation to induce late preterm birth. Pioglitazone (a PPARγ agonist) was administered from day 17 to parturition in GDM group, and it was administered for 3 days before LPS injection in late preterm birth group. SRT1720 (a SIRT1 activator) was administered by oral gavage from day 0 to day 17 in both groups. Our data showed that activation of SIRT1 or PPARγ alleviated the abnormal blood glucose metabolism and lung tissue injury, downregulated expression of surfactant proteins (SP-B and SP-C), and decreased activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway induced by GDM and late preterm birth in neonatal rats. Moreover, an insulin resistance model was established by treating primary AT-II cells with insulin. Activation of SIRT1 reversed insulin-induced reduction in cell proliferation, glucose consumption, SP-B and SP-C expression, and the activity of the PI3K/AKT pathway and increase in cellular inflammation and apoptosis. Mechanistically, SIRT1 upregulated PPARγ expression via deacetylation of QKI5, an RNA binding protein that can stabilize its target mRNA molecules, and then activated the PI3K/AKT pathway. In conclusion, SIRT1 promotes the expression of PPARγ via upregulation of QKI5 and activates the PI3K/AKT pathway, thus mitigating NRDS caused by GDM and late preterm birth.

Self-Powered Biosensor Based on DNA Walkers for Ultrasensitive MicroRNA Detection.

A novel self-powered biosensor is fabricated for ultrasensitive microRNA-21 (miRNA-21) detection, which includes an enzymatic biofuel cell (EBFC), DNA walkers, a digital multimeter (DMM), and a capacitor. As a novel strategy for signal amplification, DNA walkers are designed in the cathode, while the capacitor stores electrochemical energy from the EBFC to further boost the instantaneous current displayed by the DMM. When miRNA-21 is present, the DNA walkers are provoked to walk from as-opened hairpin structures to other hairpin structures, generating double-strand DNA structures, which stimulate [Ru(NH3)6]3+ to be adsorbed on the cathode surface by electrostatic interaction. Afterward, [Ru(NH3)6]3+ is reduced to [Ru(NH3)6]2+, and the open circuit voltage (EOCV) is significantly increased. Depending on the approach of signal amplification from DNA walkers, this biosensor displays an ultrasensitive assay toward miRNA-21 in the range of 0.5 to 104 fM, with a detection limit of 0.15 fM. In addition, this self-powered biosensor displays high selectivity for miRNA-21 assay in human serum samples.

Novel Ultralow-Potential Electrochemiluminescence Aptasensor for the Highly Sensitive Detection of Zearalenone Using a Resonance Energy Transfer System.

An ultralow-potential electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor has been designed for zearalenone (ZEN) assay based on a resonance energy transfer (RET) system with SnS2 QDs/g-C3N4 as a novel luminophore and CuO/NH2-UiO-66 as a dual-quencher. SnS2 QDs were loaded onto g-C3N4 nanosheets and enhanced the ECL luminescence via strong synergistic effects under an ultralow potential. The UV-vis absorption spectrum of CuO/NH2-UiO-66 exhibits considerable overlap with the ECL emission spectrum of SnS2 QDs/g-C3N4, an important consideration for the RET process. In order to stimulate RET, the ZEN aptamer and complementary DNA are introduced for conjugation between the donor and the acceptor. With the binding interaction between ZEN by its aptamer, CuO/NH2-UiO-66 is removed from the electrode surface, resulting in the inhibition of the RET system and an increase in the ECL signal. Under optimal conditions, the as-prepared aptasensor quantified ZEN from 0.5 µg·mL-1 to 0.1 fg·mL-1 with a low limit of detection of 0.085 fg·mL-1, and it exhibited good stability, excellent specificity, high reproducibility, and desirable practicality. The sensing strategy provides a method for mycotoxins assay to monitor food safety.

AuPt Nanodonuts as a Novel Coreaction Accelerator and Luminophore for a Label-free Electrochemiluminescence Aptasensor.

Novel and effective coreaction accelerators are of great importance in electrochemiluminescence (ECL) systems. In this work, novel AuPt nanodonuts, i.e., SnS2 quantum dots (QDs)/Cys-AuPt heterogeneous nanorings (NRs), serve as both a highly effective coreaction accelerator and the luminophore in a label-free ECL aptasensor. The novel AuPt nanodonuts were formed by decorating SnS2 QDs onto AuPt NR surfaces, which would promote the production of more coreactant intermediate in the SnS2 QDs/K2S2O8 system. As a result, the ECL performance was greatly improved. Meanwhile, l-cysteine (l-Cys) played an important role in the combination between AuPt NRs and SnS2 QDs, and the nanodonuts served as the matrix to load numerous lincomycin (Lin) aptamers. Under optimal conditions, the ECL aptasensor exhibited ultrasensitive detection of Lin from 1 fg/mL to 0.1 pg/mL with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.7 fg/mL (1.72 fM).

MarsGT: Multi-omics analysis for rare population inference using single-cell graph transformer.

Rare cell populations are key in neoplastic progression and therapeutic response, offering potential intervention targets. However, their computational identification and analysis often lag behind major cell types. To fill this gap, we introduced MarsGT: Multi-omics Analysis for Rare population inference using Single-cell Graph Transformer. It identifies rare cell populations using a probability-based heterogeneous graph transformer on single-cell multi-omics data. MarsGT outperformed existing tools in identifying rare cells across 400 simulated and four real human datasets. In mouse retina data, it revealed unique subpopulations of rare bipolar cells and a Müller glia cell subpopulation. In human lymph node data, MarsGT detected an intermediate B cell population potentially acting as lymphoma precursors. In human melanoma data, it identified a rare MAIT-like population impacted by a high IFN-I response and revealed the mechanism of immunotherapy. Hence, MarsGT offers biological insights and suggests potential strategies for early detection and therapeutic intervention of disease.

Fabrication of Highly Conductive Porous Fe3O4@RGO/PEDOT:PSS Composite Films via Acid Post-Treatment and Their Applications as Electrochemical Supercapacitor and Thermoelectric Material.

As a remarkable multifunctional material, ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) exhibits considerable potential for applications in many fields, such as energy storage and conversion technologies. However, the poor electronic and ionic conductivities of classical Fe3O4 restricts its application. To address this challenge, Fe3O4 nanoparticles are combined with graphene oxide (GO) via a typical hydrothermal method, followed by a conductive wrapping using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) for the fabrication of composite films. Upon acid treatment, a highly conductive porous Fe3O4@RGO/PEDOT:PSS hybrid is successfully constructed, and each component exerts its action that effectively facilitates the electron transfer and subsequent performance improvement. Specifically, the Fe3O4@RGO/PEDOT:PSS porous film achieves a high specific capacitance of 244.7 F g-1 at a current of 1 A g-1. Furthermore, due to the facial fabrication of the highly conductive networks, the free-standing film exhibits potential advantages in flexible thermoelectric (TE) materials. Notably, such a hybrid film shows a high electric conductivity (σ) of 507.56 S cm-1, a three times greater value than the Fe3O4@RGO component, and achieves an optimized Seebeck coefficient (S) of 13.29 µV K-1 at room temperature. This work provides a novel route for the synthesis of Fe3O4@RGO/PEDOT:PSS multifunctional films that possess promising applications in energy storage and conversion.

Microplastic pollution in water environment of typical nature reserves and scenery districts in southern China.

Microplastics were frequently detected in the ocean, freshwater environment and wastewater treatment plants. This study aims to fill up the knowledge gap of microplastic distribution in nature reserves and scenery districts. Microplastic samples were collected, the distribution characteristics were analyzed with a stereoscopic microscope and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and the ecological risks of microplastic pollution were calculated. Microplastics were detected in all the collected water samples and the average abundances of microplastics in the surface water of eleven investigated nature reserves and scenery districts ranged from 542 to 5500 items/m3. The degrees of microplastic pollution of all the surveyed nature reserves and scenery districts were classified as hazard level I. Fiber microplastics represented the largest average proportion (67.4 %) and 91.7 % of the detected microplastics were smaller than 2 mm. Corresponding to the frequent detection of fiber microplastics, cotton was the most abundant (25.5 %) polymer type of the suspected microplastics, followed by polyamide (PA, 20.6 %), polyester (PET, 17.0 %), and cellulose (15.6 %). For the ecological risk of the microplastic polymers, six, two and three nature reserves and scenery districts were defined to be at hazard level I, II and III, respectively. In brief, microplastic pollution occurred in all the surveyed nature reserves/scenery districts and posed different degrees of ecological risks.

Clinical and pathological evaluation of cladribine treatment response in a case series of patients with xanthoma disseminatum.

BACKGROUND: Xanthoma disseminatum (XD) is a rare form of non-Langerhans histiocytosis with extensive cutaneous involvement. There is a paucity of evidence-based recommendations for treatment decision-making. Previous case reports have established purine analogues, especially cladribine, as a hopeful first-line treatment option, but characterization of the clinical and pathological responses is lacking. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the clinical and pathological responses to cladribine monotherapy based on serial examinations in XD patients. MATERIALS & METHODS: We retrospectively studied the clinical, pathological and laboratory data in a cohort of five XD patients who received intravenous cladribine monotherapy with serial examinations in our hospital. Compared with baseline characteristics, changes in clinical features and pathological patterns were identified and analysed. We also conducted a literature review of reported cases of cladribine treatment in XD patients. RESULTS: Four male and one female patient were involved in the study. All patients demonstrated satisfactory clinical responses to cladribine monotherapy after 5 to 10 cycles. We observed a pathological shift in pattern from classic xanthogranuloma to transitional fibrohistiocytic infiltration during the treatment, and pathological responses heralded persistent clinical improvement. Other than afebrile neutropenia, no prominent adverse events were identified. Sustainable lesion clearance was achieved in all five patients during the follow-up period, ranging from 19 to 66 months. CONCLUSION: Cladribine monotherapy is an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option for XD patients. Pathological transformation is a signature of the clinical response and possibly unveils the underlying histiocyte biology of diseases in the xanthogranuloma family.

Optimizing Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction via Interfacial Electric Field Modulation: Elevating d-Band Center in WS2 -WO3 for Enhanced Intermediate Adsorption.

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR) has emerged as a promising approach to synthesizing green ammonia under ambient conditions. Tungsten (W) is one of the most effective ENRR catalysts. In this reaction, the protonation of intermediates is the rate-determining step (RDS). Enhancing the adsorption of intermediates is crucial to increase the protonation of intermediates, which can lead to improved catalytic performance. Herein, we constructed a strong interfacial electric field in WS2 -WO3 to elevate the d-band center of W, thereby strengthening the adsorption of intermediates. Experimental results demonstrated that this approach led to a significantly improved ENRR performance. Specifically, WS2 -WO3 exhibited a high NH3 yield of 62.38 µg h-1 mgcat -1 and a promoted faraday efficiency (FE) of 24.24 %. Furthermore, in situ characterizations and theoretical calculations showed that the strong interfacial electric field in WS2 -WO3 upshifted the d-band center of W towards the Fermi level, leading to enhanced adsorption of -NH2 and -NH intermediates on the catalyst surface. This resulted in a significantly promoted reaction rate of the RDS. Overall, our study offers new insights into the relationship between interfacial electric field and d-band center and provides a promising strategy to enhance the intermediates adsorption during the ENRR process.

The structure of fly Teneurin-m reveals an asymmetric self-assembly that allows expansion into zippers.

Teneurins are conserved cell adhesion molecules essential for embryogenesis and neural development in animals. Key to teneurin function is the ability of its extracellular region to form homophilic interactions in cis and/or in trans. However, our molecular understanding of teneurin homophilic interaction remains largely incomplete. Here, we showed that an extracellular fragment of Teneurin-m, the major teneurin homolog in flies, behaves as a homodimer in solution. The structure of Teneurin-m revealed that the transthyretin-related domain from one protomer and the ß-propeller domain from the other mediates Teneurin-m self-association, which is abolished by point mutation of conserved residues. Strikingly, this architecture generates an asymmetric oligomerization interface that enables expansion of Teneurin-m into long zipper arrays reminiscent of protocadherins. An alternatively spliced site that exists only in vertebrates and regulates homophilic interaction in mammalian teneurins overlaps with the fly Teneurin-m self-association interface. Our work provides a molecular understanding of teneurin homophilic interaction and sheds light on its role in teneurin function throughout evolution.