A potential MRI contract agent for tumor detection

Since the first successful attempt in the early 1970s, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a non-invasive diagnostic tool has seen rapid and wide applications in clinical practice. However,new types of contrast agents remain to be developed for further improving the sensitivity and specificity of the technology.     

The heterogeneity-diversity-system performance nexusOA

Ever-growing human population and nutritional demands,supply chain disruptions,and advancing climate change have led to the re alization that changes in diversity and system performance are intimately linked.Moreover,diversity and system performance depend on heterogeneity.Mitigating changes in system performance and promoting sustainable living conditions requires transformative decisions.Here,we introduce the heterogeneity-diversity-system performance(HDP) nexus as the conceptual basis upon wh...     

Unraveling the electrophilic oxygen-mediated mechanism for alcohol electrooxidation on NiOOA

Aqueous organic electrosynthesis such as nucleophile oxidation reaction(NOR) is an economical and green approach.However,its development has been hindered by the inadequate understanding of the synergy between the electrochemical and non-electrochemical steps.In this study,we unravel the NOR me chanism for the primary alcohol/vicinal diol electro oxidation on NiO.Thereinto,the ele ctrochemical step is the generation of Ni³⁺-(OH)_ads,and the spontaneous reaction between Ni     

Level pinning of anti-PT-symmetric circuits for efficient wireless power transferOA

Wireless power transfer(WPT) technology based on magnetic resonance(a basic physical phenomenon)can directly transfer energy from the source to the load without wires and other physical contacts, and has been successfully applied to implantable medical devices, electric vehicles, robotic arms and other fields.However, due to the frequency splitting of near-field coupling, the resonant WPT system has some unique limitations, such as poor transmission stability and low efficiency. Here, we propose...     

Cyclic-anion salt for high-voltage stable potassium-metal batteriesOA

Electrolyte anions are critical for achieving high-voltage stable potassium-metal batteries(PMBs).However,the common anions cannot simultaneously prevent the formation of ’dead K’ and the corrosion of Al current collector,resulting in poor cycling stability.Here,we demonstrate cyclic anion of hexafluoropropane-1,3-disulfonimide-based electrolytes that can mitigate the ’dead K’ and remarkably enhance the high-voltage stability of PMBs.Particularly,even using low salt concentration(0.8 M) and addi...     

Competition on robust deep learningOA

<正>PROBLEM In recent years,the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology,especially machine learning and deep learning, is profoundly changing human production and lifestyle.In various fields,such as robotics,face recognition,autonomous driving and healthcare,AI is playing an important role.However,although AI is promoting the technological revolution and industrial progress,its security risks are often overlooked.Previous studies have found that the wellperforming deep ...     

Data quantity governance for machine learning in materials scienceOA

Data-driven machine learning(ML) is widely employed in the analysis of materials structure-activity relationships,performance optimization and materials design due to its superior ability to reveal latent data patterns and make accurate prediction.However,because of the laborious process of materials data acquisition,ML models encounter the issue of the mismatch between a high dimension of feature space and a small sample size(for traditional ML models) or the mismatch between model parameters a...     

Photodegradable polar-functionalized polyethylenesOA

The degradation of plastics has attracted much attention from the global community.Polyethylenes(PEs),as the most abundant synthetic plastics,are most frequently studied.PE is non-degradable and non-polar because of the sole presence of the pure hydrocarbon components.Concurrent incorporation of both in-chain cleavable and functional groups into the PE chain is an effective pathway to overcome the non-degradable and non-polar issue;however,the method for achieving this pathway remains elusive.He...     

Multiscale dynamical cross-talk in zeolite-catalyzed methanol and dimethyl ether conversionsOA

Establishing a comprehensive understanding of the dynamical multiscale diffusion and reaction process is crucial for zeolite shape-selective catalysis and is urgently demanded in academia and industry. So far,diffusion and reaction for methanol and dimethyl ether(DME) conversions have usually been studied separately and focused on a single scale. Herein, we decipher the dynamical molecular diffusion and reaction process for methanol and DME conversions within the zeolite material evolving with t...     

N,N-dimethylformamide tailors solvent effect to boost Zn anode reversibility in aqueous electrolyteOA

Rechargeable aqueous Zn batteries are considered as promising energy-storage devices because of their high capacity,environmental friendliness and low cost.However,the hydrogen evolution reaction and growth of dendritic Zn in common aqueous electrolytes severely restrict the application of Zn batteries.Here,we develop a simple strategy to suppress side reactions and boost the reversibility of the Zn electrode.By introducing 30%(volume fractions) N,N-dimethylformamide(DMF) to the 2 M Zn(CF_3<...     

N-heterocyclic carbene-stabilized metal nanoparticles within porous organic cages for catalytic applicationOA

Tuning the surface-embellishing ligands of metal nanoparticles(NPs) is a powerful strategy to modulate their morphology and surface electronic and functional features, impacting their catalytic activity and selectivity. In this work, we report the design and synthesis of a polytriazolium organic cage PIC-T, capable of stabilizing Pd NPs within its discrete cavity. The obtained material(denoted Pd@PCC-T) is highly durable and monodispersed with narrow particle-size distribution of 2.06 ± 0.02 nm,...     

Three Gorges Dam: friend or foe of riverine greenhouse gases?OA

Dams are often regarded as greenhouse gas(GHG) emitters. However, our study indicated that the world’s largest dam, the Three Gorges Dam(TGD), has caused significant drops in annual average emissions of CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O over 4300 km along the Yangtze River, accompanied by remarkable reductions in the annual export of CO₂(79%), CH₄(50%) and N₂O(9%) to the sea. Since the commencement of its operation in 2003, the TGD has altered the...     

Theory and classification of mass extinction causationOA

Theory regarding the causation of mass extinctions is in need of systematization, which is the focus of this contribution. Every mass extinction has both an ultimate cause, i.e. the trigger that leads to various climato-environmental changes, and one or more proximate cause(s), i.e. the specific climato-environmental changes that result in elevated biotic mortality. With regard to ultimate causes, strong cases can be made that bolide(i.e. meteor) impacts, large igneous province(LIP) eruptions an...     

Material research from the viewpoint of functional motifsOA

As early as 2001,the need for the ’functional motif theory’ was pointed out,to assist the rational design of functional materials.The properties of materials are determined by their functional motifs and how they are arranged in the materials.Uncovering functional motifs and their arrangements is crucial in understanding the properties of materials and rationally designing new materials of desired properties.The functional motifs of materials are the critical microstructural units(e.g.constituen...     

Testing flexible polymer solar cells in near-spaceOA

<正>Since the big success of the Vanguard1 mission,being the first solar-powered satellite,the use of solar cells in space developed very rapidly.Today,conventional solar cell technologies for space are based on silicon and GaAs modules.If significantly higher power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) are required,     

MOPCS: next-generation nucleic acid molecular biosensorOA

<正>Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had a huge impact on the world, causing millions of deaths and a serious blow to the global economy. SARS-CoV-2 can aack most body tissues with devastating consequences [1].e current global SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has exposed our shortcomings in the prevention and control of infectious diseases,     

Bioprocess inspired formation of calcite mesocrystals by cation-mediated particle attachment mechanismOA

Calcite mesocrystals were proposed, and have been widely reported, to form in the presence of polymer additives via oriented assembly of nanoparticles. However, the formation mechanism and the role of polymer additives remain elusive. Here, inspired by the biomineralization process of sea urchin spine comprising magnesium calcite mesocrystals, we show that calcite mesocrystals could also be obtained via atachment of amorphous calcium carbonate(ACC) nanoparticles in the presence of inorganic zinc...     

Magnesium isotope geochemistry of the carbonate-silicate system in subduction zonesOA

The lighter magnesium(Mg) isotopic signatures observed in intraplate basalts are commonly thought to result from deep carbonate recycling, provided that the sharp difference in Mg isotopic composition between surface carbonates and the normal mantle is preserved during plate subduction. However, deep subduction of carbonates and silicates could potentially fractionate Mg isotopes and change their chemical compositions. Subducting silicate rocks that experience metamorphic dehydration lose a smal...