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Photonic synapses have attracted increasing interest owing to their ultrafast signal transmission, high bandwidth, and low energy consumption. Dielectrics in organic photonic synaptic transistors (OPSTs) affect the photoinduced charge accumulated at the interface between the dielectrics and organic semiconductor (OSC) layer, modulating a synapse-like behavior. Herein, to investigate the effect of the interfacial properties of polymeric gate insulators on photosensitive synaptic characteristics, two types of polymers, i.e., poly(4-vinylphenol) and poly(styrene), were used as gate dielectrics of OPSTs. We discovered that the functional groups of the polymeric gate dielectrics that induce charge trapping primarily contribute to the synaptic properties of the OPSTs. This result was obtained by analyzing the morphological and physicochemical properties, including surface roughness, surface energy of the insulators, and grain size of the OSC layer on the dielectric layers. Further, the poly(4-vinylphenol)-based OPST with strong interfacial charge-trapping effect showed various synaptic characteristics, such as excitatory postsynaptic currents, paired-pulse facilitation, spike duration-dependent plasticity, spike number-dependent plasticity, and spike rate-dependent plasticity, according to the adjustment of various ultraviolet light information (i.e., exposure duration, number, and rate). In contrast, the poly(styrene)-based OPST did not show synaptic photoresponse. Furthermore, based on the potentiation/depression characteristics of the device, a recognition accuracy of 88% was achieved using handwritten digit recognition designed using datasets from the Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology. Therefore, this study reveals the understanding of the relation between the dielectric/OSC layer and photosensitive synaptic characteristics from the charge-trapping effect. It also provides a strategy for optimizing the photoresponsive synaptic characteristics of OPSTs.

The electrosynthesis of formate from CO 2 can mitigate environmental issues while providing an economically valuable product. Although stannic oxide is a good catalytic material for formate production, a metallic phase is formed under high reduction overpotentials, reducing its activity. Here, using a fluorine-doped tin oxide catalyst, a high Faradaic efficiency for formate (95% at 100 mA cm −2 ) and a maximum partial current density of 330 mA cm −2 (at 400 mA cm −2 ) is achieved for the electroreduction of CO 2 . Furthermore, the formate selectivity (≈90%) is nearly constant over 7 days of operation at a current density of 100 mA cm −2 . In-situ/operando spectroscopies reveal that the fluorine dopant plays a critical role in maintaining the high oxidation state of Sn, leading to enhanced durability at high current densities. First-principle calculation also suggests that the fluorine-doped tin oxide surface could provide a thermodynamically stable environment to form HCOO* intermediate than tin oxide surface. These findings suggest a simple and efficient approach for designing active and durable electrocatalysts for the electrosynthesis of formate from CO 2 . Though stannic oxides can catalyze CO 2 electroreduction to formate, the stability of these catalysts has been limited. Here, the authors demonstrate stable fluorine-doped SnO2 materials toward formate production at current densities of >300 mA/cm 2 .

Synthetic double-stranded RNA analogs recognized by Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) are an attractive adjuvant candidate for vaccines, especially against intracellular pathogens or tumors, because of their ability to enhance T cell and antibody responses. Although poly(I:C) is a representative dsRNA with potent adjuvanticity, its clinical application has been limited due to heterogeneous molecular size, inconsistent activity, poor stability, and toxicity. To overcome these limitations, we developed a novel dsRNA-based TLR3 agonist named NexaVant (NVT) by using PCR-coupled bidirectional in vitro transcription. Agarose gel electrophoresis and reverse phase-HPLC analysis demonstrated that NVT is a single 275-kDa homogeneous molecule. NVT appears to be stable since its appearance, concentration, and molecular size were unaffected under 6 months of accelerated storage conditions. Moreover, preclinical evaluation of toxicity under good laboratory practices showed that NVT is a safe substance without any signs of serious toxicity. NVT stimulated TLR3 and increased the expression of viral nucleic acid sensors TLR3, MDA-5, and RIG-1. When intramuscularly injected into C57BL/6 mice, ovalbumin (OVA) plus NVT highly increased the migration of dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and neutrophils into inguinal lymph node (iLN) compared with OVA alone. In addition, NVT substantially induced the phenotypic markers of DC maturation and activation including MHC-II, CD40, CD80, and CD86 together with IFN-β production. Furthermore, NVT exhibited an appropriate adjuvanticity because it elevated OVA-specific IgG, in particular, higher levels of IgG2c (Th1-type) but lower IgG1 (Th2-type). Concomitantly, NVT increased the levels of Th1-type T cells such as IFN-γ + CD4 + and IFN-γ + CD8 + cells in response to OVA stimulation. Collectively, we suggest that NVT with appropriate safety and effectiveness is a novel and promising adjuvant for vaccines, especially those requiring T cell mediated immunity such as viral and cancer vaccines.

To realize economically feasible electrochemical CO 2 conversion, achieving a high partial current density for value-added products is particularly vital. However, acceleration of the hydrogen evolution reaction due to cathode flooding in a high-current-density region makes this challenging. Herein, we find that partially ligand-derived Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) could prevent electrolyte flooding while maintaining catalytic activity for CO 2 electroreduction. This results in a high Faradaic efficiency for CO (>90%) and high partial current density (298.39 mA cm ‒2 ), even under harsh stability test conditions (3.4 V). The suppressed splitting/detachment of Ag particles, due to the lipid ligand, enhance the uniform hydrophobicity retention of the Ag-NP electrode at high cathodic overpotentials and prevent flooding and current fluctuations. The mass transfer of gaseous CO 2 is maintained in the catalytic region of several hundred nanometers, with the smooth formation of a triple phase boundary, which facilitate the occurrence of CO 2 RR instead of HER. We analyze catalyst degradation and cathode flooding during CO 2 electrolysis through identical-location transmission electron microscopy and operando synchrotron-based X-ray computed tomography. This study develops an efficient strategy for designing active and durable electrocatalysts for CO 2 electrolysis. A key factor for the electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to CO is limiting the competing H 2 evolution reaction. Here, authors use real-time synchrotron X-ray computed tomography to show that a silver nanoparticle-ligand catalyst structure improves water management, thereby maintaining CO production.

Oxide ceramic electrolytes for realization of high-energy lithium metal batteries typically require high-temperature processes to achieve the desired phase formation and inter-particle sintering. However, such high-temperature processing can lead to compositional changes or mechanical deformation, compromising material reliability. Here, we introduce a disorder-driven, sintering-free approach to synthesize garnet-type solid electrolyte via the creation of an amorphous matrix followed by a single-step mild heat-treatment. The softened mechanical property (yield pressure, P y  = 359.8 MPa) of disordered base materials enables the facile formation of a dense amorphous matrix and the preserving of inter-particle connectivity during crystallization. The formation of the cubic-phase garnet is triggered at a lowered temperature of 350 °C, achieving a Li + ionic conductivity of 1.8 × 10 –4 S/cm at 25 °C through a single-step mild heat treatment at 500 °C. The disorder-driven garnet solid electrolyte exhibits electrochemical performance comparable to conventional garnet solid electrolyte sintered at >1100 °C. These findings will promote the fabrication of uniform, thin, and wide solid electrolyte membranes, which is a significant hurdle in the commercialization of oxide-based lithium metal batteries, and demonstrate the untapped capabilities of garnet-type oxide solid electrolytes. Oxide ceramic electrolytes for Li-metal batteries often require high-temperature processing, which can compromise material reliability. Here, the authors present a sintering-free approach to synthesize disorder-driven garnet-type solid electrolytes, achieving performance comparable to traditional sintered materials.

Currently, conventional dimethoxymethane synthesis methods are environmentally unfriendly. Here, we report a photo-redox catalysis system to generate dimethoxymethane using a silver and tungsten co-modified blue titanium dioxide catalyst (Ag.W-BTO) by coupling CO 2 reduction and CH 3 OH oxidation under mild conditions. The Ag.W-BTO structure and its electron and hole transfer are comprehensively investigated by combining advanced characterizations and theoretical studies. Strikingly, Ag.W-BTO achieve a record photocatalytic activity of 5702.49 µmol g −1 with 92.08% dimethoxymethane selectivity in 9 h of ultraviolet-visible irradiation without sacrificial agents. Systematic isotope labeling experiments, in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier-transform analysis, and theoretical calculations reveal that the Ag and W species respectively catalyze CO 2 conversion to *CH 2 O and CH 3 OH oxidation to *CH 3 O. Subsequently, an asymmetric carbon-oxygen coupling process between these two crucial intermediates produces dimethoxymethane. This work presents a CO 2 photocatalytic reduction system for multi-carbon production to meet the objectives of sustainable economic development and carbon neutrality. This study unravels the efficient photocatalytic route for synthesizing dimethoxymethane by coupling CO2 reduction integrated with CH3OH oxidation by using a silver and tungsten comodified blue titanium dioxide catalyst under mild conditions.

This study evaluated the influence of various surface treatments on the bonding performance and mechanical behavior of zirconia, with particular emphasis on the effect of laser surface texturing (LST) compared with conventional 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (10-MDP) and airborne particle abrasion (APA) methods. Two zirconia compositions, 3 mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (3Y-TZP) and 5 mol% partially stabilized zirconia (5Y-PSZ), were subjected to four surface treatment protocols: as-milled, 10-MDP, APA, and LST (n = 12). Shear bond strength (SBS) to titanium and biaxial flexural strength (BFS) of zirconia were measured. Surface morphology, failure mode, and phase composition were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test (α = 0.05), and the reliability of flexural strength was assessed using Weibull analysis. Surface treatment significantly affected SBS (p < 0.05). The LST groups exhibited the highest SBS values and a higher proportion of mixed failures, whereas other groups predominantly showed adhesive failures. However, LST-treated specimens, particularly 5Y-PSZ, showed reduced BFS. XRD confirmed phase stability, although localized microstructural changes were observed after LST. LST enhanced the zirconia–titanium interfacial bond strength and promoted mixed failure modes; however, this improvement was accompanied by a reduction in flexural strength, particularly in 5Y-PSZ.

Methanol is an attractive one-carbon feedstock for sustainable biomanufacturing because of its abundance, cost-effectiveness, and industrial compatibility. However, its cytotoxicity limits its biotechnological applications in native methylotrophs such as Methylobacterium extorquens AM1. In this study, we developed AM1-derived strains capable of sustained growth under elevated methanol concentrations through adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE). From the evolved population, five representative strains were isolated, exhibiting up to a 1.68-fold increase in specific growth rates compared with those of the wild- type at 2.5% (v/v; 617.93 mM) methanol. Genomic analysis of the evolved strains revealed recurrent mutations in metY ( O -acetyl-L-homoserine sulfhydrylase) and kefB (potassium efflux antiporter). Functional validation confirmed that these recurrent mutations improve methanol tolerance through distinct yet complementary mechanisms. The consistent emergence of mutations in metY and kefB across all strains implies strong convergent selection, highlighting their independent roles in a coordinated adaptive strategy. Specifically, the metY mutations are hypothesized to fine-tune enzyme activity to reduce toxic byproduct formation, while the loss-of-function kefB mutation likely conserves cellular energy. The largely additive nature of their combined effect underscores how these distinct adaptive mechanisms, optimization of methionine biosynthesis and energy conservation, independently contribute to the overall fitness improvement under methanol stress. To further elucidate methanol adaptation strategies, we performed an integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis. Transcriptome profiling revealed 767 differentially expressed genes, indicating widespread transcriptional reprogramming. Notably, the key upregulated genes were involved mainly in central carbon metabolism, methionine biosynthesis, cellular defense responses such as oxidative stress mitigation, and nitrogen metabolism, as interpreted through DEG mapping onto metabolic pathways using a genome-scale metabolic model. Overall, this study highlights how coordinated genetic and transcriptional adaptations contribute to methanol tolerance in the AM1-derived evolved strains, providing systems-level insights. These strains represent promising platforms for methanol-based biomanufacturing, with the potential to improve microbial robustness and reduce stress-induced bottlenecks in industrial processes.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options. Capping protein inhibiting regulator of actin dynamics ( CRACD ) that promotes actin polymerization, is frequently inactivated in SCLC. However, the role of CRACD loss in SCLC is unknown. Here we show that CRACD depletion drives neuroendocrine (NE) cell plasticity and immune evasion in SCLC. Mechanistically, CRACD inactivation disrupts actin organization, leading to suppression of Yap1-NOTCH signaling and subsequent NE gene upregulation. Simultaneously, CRACD loss drives EZH2-mediated histone methylation via nuclear actin disruption, leading to repression of MHC-I genes and depletion of CD8⁺ T cells. Consequently, CRACD-downregulated tumors exhibit increased cellular heterogeneity and escape from immune surveillance. Conversely, pharmacological inhibition of EZH2 restores MHC-I expression, reactivates antitumor immunity, and suppresses tumor growth. These findings identify CRACD as a tumor suppressor that constrains cell plasticity and immune evasion, highlighting the CRACD–EZH2–MHC-I axis as a potential therapeutic vulnerability in SCLC. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is aggressive with limited therapeutic options. Here, authors find that loss of CRACD induces neuroendocrine plasticity and immune evasion and suggest manipulating the CRACD-EZH2-MHC-I axis as a potential therapeutic strategy for SCLC.

To compare the outcomes of imaging methods (mammography alone, ultrasound [US] alone, mammography combined with US, and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]-based examination) for surveillance during the first 5 years after breast cancer surgery. This retrospective cohort study analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent breast cancer surgery at a single institution between January 2011 and December 2015. Imaging surveillance was performed at 6-month or 1-year intervals during the first 5 years. A total of 6371 women (median age, 49 years; age range, 20-90 years) underwent 28199 mammograms, 42759 US, and 2619 MRI examinations. Of 172 second breast cancer diagnoses, 19 (11.0%) were interval cancers. Mammography combined with US demonstrated higher cancer detection rate (CDR) compared to mammography alone (odds ratios [OR] = 3.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.52-8.96, = 0.009) and US alone (OR = 2.80, 95% CI: 1.71-4.65, < 0.001), whereas there was no statistical significance when compared with MRI-based examinations (OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.49-1.74, > 0.999). A statistically significant interaction was observed between the mammographic breast density (MBD) and CDR of the imaging methods ( for interaction = 0.003). The CDR of surveillance mammography combined with US was comparable with that of MRI-based examinations in an intensive surveillance setting. Considering the significant interaction between MBD and the CDR, a tailored approach for surveillance based on breast density is warranted.