This study investigates the impact of synonymous gene recoding, specifically codon optimization (CO) and codon-pair optimization (CPO), on the properties of human ADAMTS13 protein. By comparing wild-type (WT) ADAMTS13 with CO and CPO variants, the researchers aimed to elucidate the cellular mechanisms underlying the biogenesis of these recoded proteins and their implications for therapeutic applications.

Zwitterionic materials with covalently tethered cations and anions have great potential as electrolyte additives for aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) owing to their appealing intrinsic characteristics and merits. However, the impact of cationic and anionic moieties within zwitterions on enhancing the performance of AZIBs remains poorly understood. Herein, three zwitterions, namely carboxybetaine methacrylate (CBMA), sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA), and 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC), were selected as additives to investigate their different action mechanisms in AZIBs. All three zwitterions have the same quaternary ammonium as the positively charged group, but having different negatively charged segments, i.e., carboxylate, sulfonate, and phosphate for CBMA, SBMA, and MPC, respectively. By systematical electrochemical analysis, these zwitterions all contribute to enhanced cycling life of Zn anode, with MPC having the most pronounced effect, which can be attributed to the synergistic effect of positively quaternary ammonium group and unique negatively phosphate groups. As a result, the Zn//Zn cell with MPC as additive in ZnSO₄ electrolyte exhibits an ultralong lifespan over 5000 h. This work proposes new insights to the future development of multifunctional zwitterionic additives for remarkably stable AZIBs.

A Chinese research team has found that human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is highly expressed in urothelial carcinoma, and its expression level is closely related to the pathological grade of the tumor. This discovery provides an important basis for precise targeted therapy of urothelial carcinoma and is expected to promote the optimization of related treatment regimens.

This study proposes a novel and sustainable method for fabricating 3D-printed carbon-based electrodes for electrochemical wastewater treatment. We prepared B,N-doped carbon electrodes with hierarchical porosity and a significantly enhanced surface area-to-volume ratio (up to 180%) compared to non-optimized analogues using a synergistic combination of 3D printing, phase inversion, and microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. This process allows the metal-free growth of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures directly onto polymer-derived substrates, resulting in a 20-fold increase in the electrochemically active surface area. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were used to improve mass transport and reduce pressure drop. Electrochemical characterization demonstrated that the optimized electrodes performed significantly better, achieving 4.7-, 4-, and 6.5-fold increases in the degradation rates of atenolol, metoprolol, and propranolol, respectively, during electrochemical oxidation. These results highlight the efficacy of the integrated fabrication and simulation approach in producing high-performance electrodes for sustainable wastewater treatment applications.

Metal halide perovskites, owing to their remarkable optoelectronic properties and broad application prospects, have emerged as a research hotspot in materials science and photovoltaics. In addressing challenges related to energy loss, photoelectric conversion efficiency, and operational stability in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), various strategies have been proposed, such as improving perovskite crystallization, developing tandem architectures, and advancing interfacial engineering. However, the specific impact of these approaches on internal energy transfer and conversion mechanisms within PSCs remains insufficiently understood. This review systematically examines the relationship between energy and perovskite materials throughout the photon absorption to charge carrier transport process, with particular focus on key strategies for minimizing energy losses and their underlying influence on energy-level alignment-especially in the electron transport layer and hole transport layer. It summarizes optimal absorption conditions and contributing factors during energy transfer, alongside representative case studies of high-performing systems. By elucidating these mechanisms, this work offers valuable theoretical insights for optimizing energy-level alignment, reducing energy dissipation, and guiding experimental design in PSCs research.

Although three-dimensional metal halide perovskites are promising candidates for direct X-ray detection, the ion migration of perovskites seriously affects the detector stability. Herein, face-/edge-shared 3D heterometallic glycinate hybrid perovskitoid Pb₂CuGly₂X₄ (Gly = -O₂C-CH₂-NH₂; X = Cl, Br) single crystals (SCs), in which the adjacent lead halide layers are linked by large-sized Cu(Gly)₂ pillars, are synthesized in water. The Cu(Gly)₂ pillars in combination with face-/edge-shared inorganic skeleton are found able to synergistically suppress the ion migration, delivering a high ion migration activation energy (E_a) of 1.06 eV. The Pb₂CuGly₂Cl₄ SC X-ray detector displays extremely low dark current drift of 1.20 × 10^–9 nA mm⁻¹ s⁻¹ V⁻¹ under high electric field (120 V mm⁻¹) and continuous X-ray irradiation (2.86 Gy), and a high sensitivity of 9,250 μC Gy⁻¹ cm⁻² is also achieved. More excitingly, the Pb₂CuGly₂Cl₄ nanocrystal can be easily dispersed in water and directly blade-coated on thin-film transistor (TFT) array substrate, and the obtained Pb₂CuGly₂Cl₄-based TFT array detector offers an X-ray imaging capability with spatial resolution of 2.2 lp mm⁻¹.

Wondering about the true cost and impact of using advanced membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment? A new study in Engineering takes a deep dive into the economics, environmental footprint, and overall sustainability of these high-tech systems. The findings might surprise you!

A new study reveals that berberine, a natural compound from traditional Chinese medicine, can improve brain function and protect blood vessels in diabetic mice by targeting gut bacteria. Could this ancient remedy hold the key to treating diabetes-related cognitive decline? Discover how scientists are uncovering its potential.