Browse Articles

Vegetarian diet is associated with a lower risk of chronic kidney disease in a population-based study

Abstract The global prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is rising and initial studies suggest that diets predominantly based on greater inclusion of plant foods may be associated with lower CKD risk. As population-based studies are lacking, we investigated the association between habitual plant-based diets and CKD in the UK Biobank cohort. The UK Biobank is a large prospective cohort study of participants aged 40–69 years. Habitual diet was assessed using a baseline food frequency questionnaire, and participants were classified into five dietary groups: high meat eaters, low meat eaters, poultry eaters, pescatarians, and vegetarians. To assess the risk of CKD across these groups, we conducted multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. During follow up of 12.9 years 23,084 out of 416,584 developed CKD. Compared to high meat eaters, the strongest association was observed among vegetarians which had a statistically significant lower risk of CKD [HR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.71– 0.93]. Our population-based study on plant-based diet types and CKD risk suggests that vegetarian diets are associated with a lower risk of CKD. Future research is needed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of plant-based diets for the prevention of CKD and other chronic diseases.

Regional and individual associations of ageing anxiety with mental health outcomes and life quality

Substrate‐Controlled Enantiodivergence in Ni‐Catalyzed Access to Phosphorylated Oxindoles With Quaternary Stereocenters

ABSTRACT A Ni‐catalyzed enantioselective intermolecular Heck‐phosphorylation of N‐aryl acrylamides with phosphine oxides is developed. This redox‐neutral cascade simultaneously forges C─C and C─P bonds, providing direct access to valuable 3,3‐disubstituted phosphorylated oxindoles with quaternary stereocenters in good yields and high ee values. Notably, the reaction exhibits a unique substrate‐controlled enantiodivergence: simply changing the leaving group (I vs. OTf) on the alkene partner switches the configuration of the product while employing the same enantiomer of the chiral catalyst. The synthetic utility is further demonstrated through product derivatizations. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the leaving group dictates the order of migratory insertion versus anion exchange and, crucially, inverts the chiral environment at the enantioselectivity‐determining oxidative addition transition state, providing a clear rationale for the observed stereodivergence.

MMPF-Net integrates temporal, spectral and spatial projection features for EEG emotion recognition

Modulation of Crystal Plane Growth for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

ABSTRACT Achieving accurate manipulation over perovskite crystal orientation and phase purity is pivotal for realizing efficient and durable perovskite solar cells. Despite the unique advantages of lead iodide (PbI 2 ) template in the two‐step deposition process for obtaining high‐quality perovskite films, challenges remain in guiding the preferential growth of perovskite crystals due to complex facets of PbI 2 . Herein, highly crystalline PbI 2 with complete (001)‐preferred orientation has been attained by incorporating 2‐phenoxyacetamidine hydrochloride (PhOAaCl), which proficiently minimizes the crystal plane energy. This rationally architectured PbI 2 template orchestrates coherent crystal plane growth of subsequent perovskite with markedly suppressed defect density and exceptional phase purity. Moreover, we further elucidate underlying growth mechanism prevailing at the solid–liquid interface between PbI 2 and organic amine salts from integrated thermodynamic and kinetic perspectives. Consequently, the target photovoltaic device attains a champion efficiency of 26.47%. Notably, the unencapsulated devices exhibit significantly outstanding damp‐heat endurance and operational robustness, while attaining 91% of initial efficiency after 2500 h of maximum power point tracking under persistent illumination in ambient conditions.

Dimensionally consistent surrogate modelling through dimensional analysis and harmonic expansions

Abstract Dimensional homogeneity is a fundamental constraint on physically meaningful models, requiring invariance under changes of units. We present a data-driven method for constructing surrogate models that satisfy this constraint at the level of the hypothesis class. Starting from a dimension matrix of measured variables, the method derives Buckingham $$\Pi$$ -groups, constructs admissible dimensional prefactors, and approximates the remaining dimensionless dependence using truncated harmonic expansions on normalized invariant domains. Once the prefactor and dictionary are fixed, the coefficients are obtained from a regularized linear regression problem. We test the approach on the simple pendulum, Planck’s black-body law, the double-pendulum Lyapunov field, and an experimental COBE/FIRAS black-body spectrum dataset. The results show that dimensional constraints improve conditioning, robustness to noise, and sample efficiency relative to unconstrained baselines, while the choice of dictionary becomes important in non-periodic or multi-invariant settings. The learned expressions are explicit and inexpensive to evaluate, which makes them useful as surrogate models for structured physical problems.

Axial Coordination Orchestrates Antibonding‐State Fermi‐Level Proximity and Oxygen Affinity in Single‐Atom Iron for Selective Chemiluminescence

ABSTRACT Selective chemiluminescence sensing systems face challenges due to poor specificity of radical pathways in aqueous environments. To address this issue, axially coordinated Fe single‐atom catalysts (Fe‐SACs) with asymmetric high‐spin N−FeN 4 sites were synthesized via one‐step calcination, enabling selective reactive iron species (RFeS) generation under neutral conditions. In situ x‐ray absorption fine structure and the density functional theory analyses revealed that the axial N‐coordination stabilizes high‐spin states, reduces orbital splitting energy, and enhances d – p hybridization with peroxymonosulfate (PMS), thereby lowering the formation energy of RFeS by 42%. Concurrently, it modulates d x 2 ‐ y 2 and d xy orbitals to weaken oxygen binding and promote electron delocalization. This dual modulation achieves > 99% RFeS selectivity, suppressing non‐selective radicals. The Fe‐SACs/PMS/luminol system exhibits 826‐fold signal amplification and < 5.8% interferent‐induced signal variation, enabling ultrasensitive evaluation of total phenolics (using phenol as a model) in complex water with < 8.3% deviation from high‐performance liquid chromatography. This work establishes axial‐coordination‐directed electronic modulation as a universal design principle for selective catalysis.

Is predation by ants driving the evolution of tarantulas? First report of tarantulas (Araneae, Theraphosidae) actively using urticating setae against invertebrates

Abstract The use of urticating setae by tarantulas from the Americas and the Caribbean has been known for centuries and is considered a defensive behavior against vertebrate predators. However, their passive use against invertebrates, such as parasitic fly maggots and ants, has also been recently proposed, but no active use of these setae against invertebrates has been observed or tested. In this study, eight tarantula specimens representing four different species from the family Theraphosidae were tested in twelve tests with the army ant Eciton burchelli and the carpenter ant Camponotus rufipes . Four spiders interacted with Eciton burchelli , and one interacted with Camponotus rufipes . The defensive behavior was distinct from that used against vertebrates, as the spider rubs the lower posterolateral region of the abdomen with downward and outward movements of the hind legs and uses silk threads. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the ants were entangled with urticating setae, primarily of type I morphology. Type I urticating setae are found exclusively in an important clade of theraphosine spiders, the tribe Theraphosini, which includes the largest known spiders. It is hypothesized here that protection against predation by ants due to the emergence of a specific type of urticating seta may be one of the factors responsible for the success of tarantulas in the New World.

Spatial Orientation‐Dependent Double Hydrogen Bond/Photoredox Cooperative Catalysis in Metal–Organic Frameworks

ABSTRACT Catalyst activity is typically the primary priority in designing a catalytic system. The higher catalyst activity is envisioned to confer more powerful and effective catalytic performance. Here, we report a heterogeneous double hydrogen bond/photoredox synergistic catalysis, wherein the flexibility and spatial orientation of catalytic centers, rather than catalyst activity, play a dominant role in catalytic performance. We synthesized six metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with photocatalytic and double hydrogen bond donor (DHBD) centers. MOF‐F‐TU featuring the relatively flexible (F) thiourea (TU) center has proved most effective in promoting dehalogenation and reductive coupling reactions. In contrast, MOF‐R‐SQA1 with a stronger but rigid (R) squaramide (SQA1) site exhibits no catalytic activity. Mechanistic studies rationalize this unique phenomenon by implying a cooperative activation of the substrate via its double hydrogen bonding with DHBD and π–π overlapping with photocatalytic center, which is closely associated with the spatial arrangement of synergistic catalytic centers. MOF‐F‐TU also outperforms homogeneous counterparts, displaying turnover numbers of up to 9500.

Application of the quality of recovery-40 questionnaire to evaluate the patient-reported quality of recovery of thyroid cancer patients undergoing endoscopic surgery through the trans-breast approach

Abstract Endoscopic thyroid surgery provides a favorable cosmetic outcome; however, it may induce more trauma than that caused by conventional open thyroidectomy. In this context, the present study aimed to explore the quality of life (QOL) of patients undergoing endoscopic thyroid cancer surgery through the trans-breast approach based on patient-reported quality of recovery by using the Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40) questionnaire. This study included patients in our hospital who were scheduled to undergo thyroid cancer surgery. Based on the chosen surgical methods, these patients were classified into two groups: the total endoscopic thyroidectomy (TET) group and the conventional open thyroidectomy (COT) group. The TET group received endoscopic thyroid cancer surgery through the trans-breast approach, while the COT group underwent conventional open thyroidectomy. Using the QoR-40 questionnaire, patient-reported quality of recovery was recorded daily from 1 day before the surgery to 1 week after the surgery. Based on the QoR-40 scores, the differences in the QOL of the two groups were compared from the perspective of patients’ subjective perceptions by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). The TET and COT groups showed no significant difference in demographic and perioperative data. The TET group had longer operation time (206.50 ± 44.61 min) than the COT group (130.07 ± 33.74 min; p  < 0.001). Both groups showed no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss and drain removal time (both p  > 0.05). The first day postoperative drainage after surgery in the TET group was 63.70 ± 33.41 mL, which was more than that in the COT group (28.35 ± 22.42 mL; p  < 0.001). Both groups showed no significant difference in the postoperative drainage on the second and third days after surgery (both p  > 0.05). Although the number of retrieved lymph nodes was less in the TET group than in the COT group ( p  = 0.002), both groups showed no significant difference in the number of metastatic lymph nodes ( p  = 0.363). Moreover, the incidence of postoperative complications and the postoperative hospital stay time were not significantly different between the two groups (both p  > 0.05). The total hospitalization cost of the TET group was higher than that of the COT group ( p  < 0.001). The QoR-40 scores of the TET and COT groups at the baseline were 188.83 ± 10.87 and 186.18 ± 14.90, respectively, with no significant difference ( p  = 0.341). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant difference in the QoR-40 scores at multiple timepoints between the TET and COT groups ( p  = 0.586). Individual analysis of each dimension based on repeated measures ANOVA showed significant differences in the QoR-40 scores at multiple timepoints between the TET and COT groups in the “Pain” dimension ( p  = 0.018), while the other dimensions showed no significant differences (all p  > 0.05). Objective evidence suggests that the safety and efficacy of endoscopic thyroid cancer surgery through the trans-breast approach are similar to those of conventional open thyroidectomy. According to patient-reported quality of recovery, our findings suggest that the two surgical methods are associated with comparable short-term recovery overall, with a possible advantage of endoscopic thyroid surgery in the pain domain.

Energy‐Transfer Catalysis Enables the Birch‐Type Reduction of 2‐Pyridones

ABSTRACT Partially saturated heteroarenes are key intermediates in drug development, as their increased C(sp 3 ) character and inherent synthetic versatility enable the rapid generation of improved lead structures. Despite their value, direct access from their aromatic precursors under Birch conditions remains limited due to safety, as well as chemoselectivity challenges. In this context, energy‐transfer (EnT)‐enabled Birch‐type reductions have emerged as a powerful strategy for (chemo)selective product formation. However, it has been largely confined to bicyclic (hetero)arenes, while their more prevalent monocyclic counterparts remain vastly underexplored. Herein, we describe the triplet sensitized, partial saturation of 2‐pyridones and their derivatives, which are known as privileged scaffolds in drug discovery. Our methodology shows exceptional regioselectivity for the Birch‐type product and tolerates a vast number of functional groups, bypassing conventional highly reducing reaction conditions. The reaction mechanism was investigated experimentally and computationally, providing strong evidence for the proposed EnT‐HAT reaction pathway and rationalizing the observed regioselectivity. Lastly, the versatile and underexplored product motifs could be applied in downstream modifications to expand the drug‐like C(sp 3 )‐rich chemical space.

Accurate tumor cell identification via AI analysis of white light scattering spectra in cytology

Data‐ and Theory‐Guided Design of Dual‐Role V‐Doped RuO ₂ for High‐Performance Acidic Oxygen Evolution

ABSTRACT Developing efficient acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts is crucial for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWE). By mining a dataset of 718 reported catalysts, we statistically identified that multi‐metal Ru‐based oxides significantly outperform monometallic counterparts (median overpotential: 210 vs. 283 mV). Guided by this insight, microkinetic modeling screened 20 metal dopants, pinpointing vanadium as a promising candidate. The synthesized V‐doped RuO 2 (RV) exhibits an ultralow overpotential of 193 ± 1 mV at 10 mA cm −2 and robust stability for 3000 h. In a practical PEMWE device, RV achieves an industrial current density of 1 A cm −2 at only 1.725 V and sustains operation for 140 h at 200 mA cm −2 . Mechanistic studies reveal that V‐doping plays a dual role in RuO 2 . It induces Lewis acidic Ru sites to accelerate deprotonation kinetics, while simultaneously acting as a dynamic redox buffer to prevent Ru over‐oxidation. This work shows how data‐ and theory‐guided screening, combined with mechanistic investigation, can accelerate the discovery and understanding of high‐performance RuO 2 ‐based acidic OER catalysts.

An elementary form of agency at planetary-scale

Abstract The claim that climate homeorhesis—non-equilibrium steady-state dynamics that underlie Earth’s long-term habitability—depends on an integrated biosphere–climate system capable of acting on its own is central to debates surrounding the Gaia hypothesis. This paper presents a proof of concept suggesting a minimal form of planetary agency based on a simple biosphere–climate system model operating through active inference. This means that the internal states of the system ( biosphere ) will appear to infer shifts in net incoming solar radiation ( external states ) through its boundary states , i.e. by integrating past and current surface temperatures ( sensory states) and actively changing greenhouse forcing ( active states ) to maintain climate trajectories within geophysiological bounds. When surface temperature is altered by solar fluctuation changes, the system adjusts greenhouse and albedo parameters to restore expected climate trajectories, analogous to correcting sensory prediction errors in biological systems. Perturbing active states (e.g., imposed changes in albedo) does not reduce inference precision. Inference robustness decreases when the system’s degrees of freedom increase. Active inference falls, and thus climate homeorhesis fails when there is no biosphere activity (lifeless planet) or when it is decoupled from the climate system. Predictive behaviour operates within the range of solar constants consistent with life’s presence on Earth (~ 4 Ga to ~ 1.5 Ga expected in the future); outside this range, inference fails, undermining a putative form of planetary agency.

Cervical cancer prevention knowledge attitudes and practices among Tunisian obstetrics and gynecology residents before HPV vaccine introduction: A cross-sectional study

Atomically Regulated Symmetry‐Breaking Sulfur‐Bridged Dual Iron Sites Catalyst for High‐Performance Oxygen Reduction Reaction

ABSTRACT Single‐atom catalysts featuring metal‐N 4 moieties hold great promise for promoting oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, their symmetric active sites often lead to suboptimal electronic structure and intermediate adsorption, thereby limiting intrinsic ORR performance. In this work, we construct a symmetry‐breaking dual‐atom site catalyst featuring Fe–S–Fe moieties (Fe 2 –S@NHCS) through precise modulation of the coordination environment and electronic structure. The interaction between adjacent Fe atoms and the bridging S atom endows the catalyst with a high half‐wave potential of 0.912 V and a turnover frequency of 1.45 s −1 at 0.85 V, significantly surpassing other Fe‐based catalysts. There is no significant performance degradation after 20,000 CV cycles or 100,000 s continuous testing. Combined theoretical and in situ spectroscopic analyses reveal that adjacent dual Fe atoms act as the active center to parallel adsorb oxygen molecule. Owing to the relatively low electronegativity of S, electron transfer from Fe to O 2 is enhanced, resulting in stronger covalent bonding and lower adsorption energy. Zinc–air batteries employing Fe 2 –S@NHCS as the cathode catalyst demonstrate high power density of 210.66 mW cm −2 and excellent stability over 900 charge–discharge cycling. This catalyst offers new insights into the design of atomic‐scale catalysts and highlights their potential for electrocatalysis applications.

Effects of resistant starch-enriched low-fat vegetable butter on blood lipids, liver enzymes, and immunity in adults: a triple-blind randomized trial

Wet Transfer of In Situ Grown Azo‐Containing Two‐Dimensional Conjugated Covalent Organic Framework Films for Photoswitchable Electronic Devices

ABSTRACT Two‐dimensional π‐conjugated covalent organic frameworks (2D π‐COFs) combine in‐plane π‐delocalization with periodic open channels, making them versatile platforms for integrating functional groups into optoelectronic and neuromorphic systems. However, their predominant powder form has fundamentally constrained device integration and interfacial engineering. Herein, we demonstrate a general strategy for constructing high‐quality transition‐metal chalcogenide@2D π‐COF van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs). Large‐area, atomically flat 2D π‐COF films are first grown on SiO 2 substrates via a liquid–solid interfacial reaction and subsequently transferred onto monolayer MoS 2 through a mild in situ wet‐transfer process. The resulting COF films exhibit atomic‐scale flatness and form clean interfaces, promoting efficient interfacial charge transfer in COF@MoS 2 heterojunctions. As a model system, we employ a robust imidazole‐linked 2D π‐COF (COF‐Azo) functionalized with azobenzene moieties, whose reversible trans‐cis photoisomerization dynamically modulates the heterojunction's electronic structure. The COF‐Azo@MoS 2 devices display pronounced and reversible photoswitching behavior, achieving a carrier density modulation of ∼6.7 × 10 11 cm −2 and an on‐state current variation of ∼43.7%. Importantly, optical control over the isomerization fraction enables non‐volatile memory behavior within the vdWHs. This work establishes a scalable route to atomically flat 2D π‐COF films as viable building blocks for vdW heterostructures and introduces a robust platform for optically reconfigurable optoelectronics and memory devices.

K-mer based method for finding sequence type-specific PCR primers for Listeria monocytogenes

Breeding for beneficial microbial associations

Abstract Beneficial plant–microbe associations (BMAs) offer a valuable opportunity to reduce dependence on synthetic inputs. However, traditional breeding has rarely targeted traits that enhance beneficial interactions, and conventional agricultural practices have often degraded soil health and microbial diversity. We present a framework that combines breeding for traits that facilitate BMA with soil management practices that enrich BMA. This approach integrates advanced breeding technologies with strategies for precise production and inoculation of microbes. Strengthening these complementary plant- and microbe-centered approaches and encouraging their adoption by farmers can foster more resilient and productive agricultural systems with reduced dependence on pesticides and fertilizers.