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Sex-specific organization and synaptic signaling in prefrontal-hypothalamic circuitry
Top down signaling from the cortex to the hypothalamus is critical to link cognitive and emotional processing to homeostasis and motivation. This study investigates signaling from the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) to the posterior hypothalamus (PH), a region that modulates endocrine and autonomic stress responses and motivated behaviors. The function and anatomy of this circuit was examined with patch clamp electrophysiology and mapping studies in male and female rats. Spontaneous firing properties of PH neurons were determined in a cell-type specific manner by combining a transgenic glutamic acid decarboxylase-Cre rat with Cre-dependent colorswitch virus to determine postsynaptic cell-type identity. Overall, PH neurons were more excitable in females compared to males and, in both sexes, data indicated tonic inhibition within the PH, with significantly greater inhibition in males. Using Channelrhodopsin-assisted circuit mapping to query the mPFC-PH circuit, we found that the majority of PH neurons received input from the mPFC. Moreover, sex-specific targeting was evident as males had greater mPFC connectivity with PH glutamate neurons. Retrograde tracing revealed more PH-projecting neurons in females, specifically within the tenia tecta and infralimbic region of the mPFC, with significantly more stress-activated PH-projecting cells in the female prelimbic cortex. Anterograde tracing revealed, surprisingly, no sex differences in mPFC presynaptic terminal density in the PH, despite more PH-projecting cell bodies in the female mPFC. These data help to elucidate the sexual divergence in cortical-hypothalamic signaling and how cognitive and emotional information from the prefrontal cortex may differentially regulate homeostasis and motivation between sexes. Significance Statement Neural signaling between the prefrontal cortex and the hypothalamus is important for maintaining homeostasis, particularly during contextual challenges such as stressors. Here we find multiple aspects of sex-specific organization and neurophysiology in this circuitry. Excitatory inputs from the medial prefrontal cortex target both excitatory and inhibitory neurons within the posterior hypothalamic nucleus in both sexes. However, there are sex differences in the number of stress-activated neurons in the prefrontal cortex that innervate the posterior hypothalamus, as well as differences in hypothalamic inhibitory signaling and estrous cycle-dependent effects on neuronal excitability. Altogether, these data suggest that organizational, synaptic, and hormonal factors may contribute to sex-specific behavioral and physiological integration.
Cosolvent‐Modulated Supramolecular Chirality Unveils Pronounced Piezoelectric Response in Peptide‐Based Nanomaterials
ABSTRACT Peptide‐based functional biomaterials have attracted widespread interest due to their inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and structural tunability. Among functional biomaterials, piezoelectric materials are particularly valuable for developing self‐powered biodevices in biomedical applications. However, peptide‐based piezoresponsive systems remain largely underexplored. In this study, we present a chromophore‐conjugated peptide (PEP‐A) that self‐assembles into nanomaterials exhibiting either piezo‐active or inactive states, with the functional behaviour closely linked to their chiroptical properties under different solvent conditions. Through a comprehensive investigation involving spectroscopy, microscopy, and atomistic simulations, we uncover how cosolvent‐induced modulation of the self‐assembly process co‐governs chiroptical and piezoelectric properties. Interestingly, PEP‐A forms elongated nanofibers in pure water that are both chiroptically and piezoelectrically inactive. However, the introduction of a minimal amount of cosolvent (1% DMSO or 1% DMF) triggers the emergence of supramolecular chirality alongside a significant piezoresponse, revealing a direct correlation between macroscopic chirality and piezoelectric functionality. Our findings highlight how subtle changes in the assembly environment can drive profound shifts in material properties, offering a powerful strategy to design responsive piezoelectric biomaterials. This study provides a novel approach to designing next‐generation, responsive, peptide‐based piezoelectric biomaterials for biomedical and bioelectronic applications.
The impact of unmanned aerial vehicle applications on agricultural carbon emission
Descending Brainstem Systems Contribute to Ankle Clonus in Humans with Spinal Cord Injury
Ankle clonus is a sustained, involuntary, rhythmic muscle contraction frequently observed in humans with spinal cord injury (SCI). Although its pathophysiology remains incompletely understood, converging evidence suggests a role for brainstem systems in its generation. Following SCI, brainstem neuromodulatory inputs partially compensate for the loss of descending motor pathways by regulating motoneuron excitability during involuntary contractions, suggesting their involvement in the generation of clonus. To test this hypothesis, motoneuron excitability in response to Ia synaptic input was quantified using the soleus H-reflex and maximal motor response (H/M ratio). Brainstem involvement was assessed using the long-latency component of the cutaneous reflex (LLR), which is influenced by monoaminergic pathways, and the StartReact response, in which reductions in reaction time to a loud acoustic stimulus are thought to reflect descending drive from the reticular formation, measured in the tibialis anterior and soleus muscles. We studied males and females with chronic SCI, both with and without ankle clonus, using standardized clinical tests across two days. Participants with clonus showed elevated H/M ratios, indicating increased motoneuron excitability, whereas those without clonus exhibited lower values than controls. Additionally, individuals with clonus exhibited longer LLR duration and greater LLR magnitude in both muscles, along with shorter reaction times to startle stimuli, consistent with enhanced monoaminergic and reticulospinal contributions. Notably, LLR duration was positively correlated with both StartReact response and H/M ratio. Together, these findings suggest a potential contribution of descending brainstem systems to the maintenance of clonus after chronic SCI. Significance Statement Ankle clonus is a repetitive, involuntary muscle contraction often seen after spinal cord injury (SCI). Its cause is not fully understood, but brainstem pathways may contribute by increasing the excitability of spinal motoneurons. In this study, we measured reflex responses in leg muscles and reactions to sensory and startling stimuli in people with chronic SCI, with and without clonus. Individuals with clonus showed stronger and longer reflex responses and faster reactions to startling sounds. These findings suggest that brainstem pathways involved in movement control may help maintain ankle clonus after SCI.
Rediscovering Sodium Ionophores as Selective Agents for Lithium Recognition and Extraction
ABSTRACT Conventional brine evaporation leads to substantial lithium losses through the formation of lithium‐containing solid precipitates that accumulate as salt stockpiles. Increasing global demand for lithium calls for selective and scalable extraction strategies for such solid materials. Solid–liquid extraction (SLE) enables direct processing of lithium‐bearing solids without prior dissolution of the inorganic matrix; however, suitable molecular extractants are scarce and often synthetically complex. Here, we show that long‐known sodium‐selective ionophores display a clear preference for lithium in solution and function as lithium‐selective extractants under SLE conditions. Hosts 1a–h are based on a modular scaffold accessible from catechol and N,N‐disubstituted haloacetamides and are readily prepared on a multigram scale (up to 58 g per batch). Lithium recognition proceeds through a hydration‐assisted binding mode, in which Li + is coordinated by water, ether, and carbonyl oxygen donors. This enables effective transfer of hydrated lithium salts, as supported by 1 H and 7 Li NMR spectroscopy, ICP‐MS, colorimetric analysis, DFT calculations, and x‐ray crystallography. Under semi‐preparative SLE conditions, nearly all available LiCl is recovered from a ∼100 g multicomponent salt mixture, affording >95% LiCl purity with Li/Na, Li/K, and Li/Mg selectivities above 3000.
A seed-associated Chaetomium globosum endophyte from a susceptible wheat cultivar suppresses Septoria tritici blotch
Abstract Septoria tritici blotch (STB), caused by Zymoseptoria tritici , is among the most damaging wheat diseases worldwide and requires sustainable alternatives to intensive fungicide use. While resistant cultivars are often considered promising sources of beneficial microbiota for biocontrol discovery, the potential of endophytes associated with susceptible cultivars remains poorly explored. Contrary to expectations, a seed-associated isolate of Chaetomium globosum (HKH_AMG), recovered from the STB-susceptible wheat cultivar Taichung 29, provided the strongest disease suppression among 45 representative fungal endophytes selected for greenhouse screening from wheat, rice, and pistachio tissues. Pretreatment with HKH_AMG significantly reduced lesion development, pycnidial coverage, and pathogen biomass in the susceptible wheat cultivar Tirgan. Disease suppression was associated with reduced stomatal penetration, early hydrogen peroxide accumulation, and enhanced levels of defence-related phenolic compounds, including salicylic and gallic acids. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that disease-susceptible wheat cultivars should not be overlooked as potential sources of highly effective biocontrol endophytes. The identification of C. globosum HKH_AMG from the susceptible cultivar Taichung 29 highlights the untapped potential of seed-associated fungal microbiota for the sustainable management of STB.
Parametric hydrodynamic and acoustic performance analysis of toroidal propellers with emphasis on geometric variations and advanced design optimization
Modulating Ni‐O‐V Bridges in NiV‐Layered Double Hydroxides Microspheres for Robust Electrocatalytic Coupling of 1,5‐Pentanediol Oxidation and Nitrate Reduction
ABSTRACT The co‐electrolysis system that couples anodic oxidation of biomass‐derived polyols with cathodic nitrate reduction reaction (NO 3 RR) represents a promising strategy for biomass valorization and treatment of high‐salinity wastewater. Here, we synthesize thin NiV‐layered double hydroxides (NiV‐LDHs) microspheres featuring engineered Ni‐O‐V bridge structures as dual‐channel electrocatalysts. The newly constructed Ni‐O‐V bridges confirmed by x‐ray absorption spectroscopy effectively modulate the electronic structures of both Ni and V sites. This synergistic enhancement boosts the performance of both anodic 1,5‐pentanediol electrooxidation to produce glutaric acid (GA) and NO 3 RR to ammonia. The NiV‐LDHs anode enables electrolysis at a low cell voltage of 1.5 V versus RHE, exhibiting a GA Faradaic efficiency of 98.5% and a high GA yield of 2.56 mmol h −1 cm −2 . Operando studies and density functional theory reveal that the strong electronic coupling within NiV‐LDHs optimizes the competitive adsorption between 1,5‐pentanediol and OH* on the catalyst surface. Moreover, the NiV‐LDHs cathode exhibits outstanding NO 3 RR performance, achieving a high ammonia yield of 2.28 mmol h −1 cm −2 with a Faradaic efficiency of 96.1%, surpassing most reported electrocatalysts. A continuous paired electrolysis operation over 240 h successfully produced GA (55.98 g) and NH 4 Cl (23.48 g) powders, demonstrating great potential for industrial application.
Evaluating the reliability and quality of rheumatoid arthritis educational content on TikTok and Bilibili: a cross-sectional content analysis
Fluorine‐Doped RuO <sub>2</sub> Anchored on TiO <sub>2</sub> via Proton‐Assisted Adsorption Evolution for Efficient and Stable Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Acid
ABSTRACT Although RuO 2 theoretically has superior oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity and a relatively lower price than IrO 2 , balancing its activity and stability remains a significant challenge. The electronic structure of Ru centers plays a critical role in balancing the activity and durability of RuO 2 ‐based electrocatalysts for OER. This study developed an F‐doped RuO 2 loaded on TiO 2 (F‐RuO 2 @TiO 2 ) to construct a Ru–O–Ti interface platform for electronegativity‐mediated charge redistribution. F‐RuO 2 @TiO 2 exhibited excellent OER activity and superior durability, operating stably for 660 h and 253 h at 100 and 200 mA cm −2 , respectively. A proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer assembled using F‐RuO 2 @TiO 2 required only 1.57 and 1.68 V at 0.5 and 1 A cm −2 , respectively, and operated stably for 300 and 100 h, respectively. Both experimental and theoretical calculations showed that the high electronegativity of F enhances the Ru–O covalency, thereby accelerating the deprotonation of *OOH through the proton‐assisted adsorption evolution mechanism (PA‐AEM). Simultaneously, the dynamic charge redistribution established between Ru–O–Ti allowed TiO 2 to buffer charge fluctuations at Ru sites, thus further effectively mitigating over‐oxidation. These findings underscore the importance of electronegativity‐regulated proton‐transfer kinetics for stabilizing RuO 2 .
The synoptic meteorology of coral reef high water temperature events in the Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba), Israel
Steering CO <sub>2</sub> Electroreduction to Methane via Secondary‐Sphere Noncovalent Interactions in NHC‐Protected Copper Clusters
ABSTRACT Copper‐based catalysts are promising for CO 2 reduction to hydrocarbons; however, selective CH 4 generation remains challenging because of the presence of competing pathways and an insufficient understanding of active site control. Herein, we develop a ligand‐microengineering strategy to synthesize a series of fully N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐protected Cu 4 O clusters, [Cu 4 ( μ 4 ‐O)] L 2 (PF 6 ) 2 ( L = 1a–1d , denoted as 2a–2d ), via a green and efficient ball‐milling approach. Of the four evaluated preparations, cluster 2c exhibits the optimal CH 4 Faradaic efficiency (), with a value of 67.5% ± 2.1% at –1.4 V versus RHE. Integrated in situ spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that unique secondary‐sphere noncovalent interactions (hydrogen‐bonding and C–H···π) present in 2c provide additional stabilization for the key *CHO intermediate, maximizing CH 4 selectivity. This study not only demonstrates the unique advantages of NHC ligands in constructing stable and efficient copper cluster catalysts but also establishes a new paradigm for precisely steering CO 2 electroreduction selectivity through the rational design of noncovalent interactions within the secondary coordination sphere.
Development of 2-step regression model for reconstruction of ambient air PM mass: Theoretical, and machine learning approaches
Redirecting Excited‐State Proton Transfer Through Supramolecular Polymerization in Nanoconfinement
ABSTRACT The photoluminescence of photoacids in supramolecular assemblies provides crucial insights into proton transfer (PT) processes within biologically relevant confinement. In this work, we present a strategy to activate intermolecular excited‐state PT within the hydrophobic cavities of cyclodextrin‐based nanotubes. Activation is achieved using a specifically designed amphoteric emitter which undergoes a pKa inversion in the photoexcited state. Despite this photophysical behavior, intramolecular PT does not occur due to the spatial separation between the proton donor and acceptor sites in the compound. However, in the presence of γ‐cyclodextrin, the photoacid assembles into guest pairs, enabling pre‐organized PT between neighboring molecules. The effects of confinement on photostability, emission lifetime, and quantum yield indicate a mechanistic shift from excited‐state protolytic dissociation to intermolecular excited‐state PT. Spectroscopic investigation of the assembly mechanism and solvent isotope effect further supports the role of a template effect, reminiscent of enzymatic activation, in facilitating PT in the excited state.
Longitudinal predictors of vaccine conspiracy beliefs: findings from a five-wave panel study in Japan
Entropy‐Stabilized Aluminate Catalysts That Break the Activity–Stability Tradeoff in CF <sub>4</sub> Hydrolysis
ABSTRACT Tetrafluoromethane (CF 4 ) is a potent, long‐lived greenhouse gas widely used in semiconductor dry‐etching processes, yet its abatement via hydrolysis remains challenging due to the lack of catalysts that simultaneously exhibit high activity and durability under strongly fluorinating, steam‐rich conditions. Conventional alumina‐based catalysts suffer from severe activity–stability tradeoffs, offering good activity only at the cost of rapid deactivation through surface‐area loss, bulk fluorination, and the formation of catalytically inactive α ‐Al 2 O 3 . Here, we report an entropy‐stabilized aluminate catalyst that overcomes this long‐standing tradeoff by combining a multication aluminate framework with an entropy‐stabilized lattice. The incorporation of multiple metal cations produces an electron‐deficient Al–O environment that enhances heterolytic C–F bond activation while suppressing H 2 O poisoning, thereby increasing intrinsic activity under practical conditions. Simultaneously, the lattice stabilization via high configurational entropy inhibits the propagation of fluorination into the bulk lattice, effectively suppressing in situ AlF 3 formation and its subsequent hydrolysis to α ‐Al 2 O 3 . Mechanistic studies further establish that CF 4 hydrolysis proceeds via a Mars–van Krevelen‐type pathway in which lattice oxygen first oxidizes CF x surface intermediates and is replenished by H 2 O. These findings identify entropy‐stabilized aluminates as a robust materials platform capable of simultaneously achieving high activity and long‐term durability for CF 4 hydrolysis.
Fractal-guided self-supervised dual-stream attention network for interpretable nail-based liver disease detection
Steering Electron Transport in Intrinsically Piezoelectric Covalent Organic Frameworks for Efficient CO <sub>2</sub> Reduction
ABSTRACT Photocatalytic CO 2 reduction represents a transformative route to sustainable fuels, yet remains limited by sluggish charge separation and rapid carrier recombination. Here, an intrinsically piezoelectric porphyrin‐based covalent organic framework anchored with zinc single atoms (Zn‐Por‐COF) is used to promote directional charge transport and accelerate reaction kinetics. Zinc coordination ( d 10 configuration) induces local symmetry breaking in the framework, giving rise to an internal piezoelectric field that cooperates with a donor–acceptor conjugated network inspired by natural photosynthetic systems. Under combined light and ultrasound excitation, the strain‐induced piezo‐potential facilitates persistent charge separation and suppresses recombination. Ultrafast femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy demonstrates that Zn incorporation effectively inhibits phonon‐assisted nonradiative decay and prolongs the carrier lifetime to 226.0 ps, which is attributed to the formation of long‐lived shallow trap states and improved exciton delocalization across the π‐conjugated backbone. Consequently, Zn‐Por‐COF achieves a high CO evolution rate of 15.59 mmol g −1 h −1 during piezo‐photocatalytic CO 2 reduction. This work demonstrates that intrinsic piezoelectricity in COF provides an effective strategy to regulate charge dynamics for high‐efficiency light‐driven CO 2 reduction.