Browse Articles

Postural alignment differences in children with urinary incontinence

Abstract This study examined whether postural alignment differs between children with urinary incontinence and asymptomatic children. Participants were children aged 5–14 with daytime urinary incontinence ( n  = 14), monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis ( n  = 13), non-monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis ( n  = 13), and asymptomatic children ( n  = 13). Postural alignment was assessed with the PostureScreen Mobile application. Lower urinary tract symptoms were evaluated using the Dysfunctional Voiding and Incontinence Scoring System, Vancouver Bladder/Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire, and Childhood Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire. Core muscle function was measured with surface electromyography and ultrasound. Left lateral total body angulation was significantly greater in urinary incontinence subgroups than in the asymptomatic group ( p  = 0.002). Left lateral, right lateral, and posterior hip-pelvis angulations were also higher ( p  = 0.001, p  = 0.045, and p  = 0.013), especially in the non-monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis subgroup. Children with urinary incontinence and greater postural deviation had higher symptom scores. In exploratory analyses, postural alignment parameters correlated with core muscle function in urinary incontinence subgroups ( p  < 0.05). However, these relationships did not remain significant after correction for multiple comparisons. This study showed that children with urinary incontinence had different postural alignment compared to asymptomatic children. The most pronounced differences were found in the hip-pelvis region. Furthermore, a tendency towards left deviation in postural alignment was observed. These changes in postural alignment appeared to be primarily related to the function of core muscles at a peripheral level. However, these exploratory correlations did not remain significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Additionally, the left deviation suggests a possible contribution from lateralisation of postural control at the central level. Therefore, future neuroimaging studies are recommended to investigate the possible relationship between postural alignment changes and the central nervous system.

Discovery of a covalent FGFR2-selective inhibitor overcoming clinically-acquired resistance mutations

A Crystalline and Thermally Stable Selenocysteine Selenenic Acid

ABSTRACT Despite more than half a century of research on selenoproteins, the central catalytic intermediate, selenocysteine selenenic acid (Sec–SeOH), has remained experimentally elusive. Its isolation has long been impeded by its presumed instability and propensity for thermal deselenation. Here, we report the first isolable Sec–SeOH at ambient temperature. This relies on a bioinspired design of a selenopeptide sequence encapsulated within a protective cradle, together with an oxidant‐free route from the corresponding selenenyl iodides (Sec–SeI), enabling x‐ray structural analysis and chemical characterization. The isolated Sec–SeOH shows unexpected resistance to β‐elimination to dehydroalanine (DHA). Oxidation experiments combined with theoretical calculations demonstrate that conversion to DHA proceeds preferentially via overoxidation to the seleninic acid (Sec–SeO 2 H), for which β‐elimination is substantially more favorable. Reactivity profiling further highlights the pronounced electrophilicity of Sec–SeOH toward biologically and pharmacologically relevant nucleophiles. These findings redefine the stability–reactivity landscape of Sec–SeOH and provide a foundation for strategies aimed at preventing selenoprotein inactivation. Beyond defining an isolable Sec–SeOH model, the work provides a molecular‐level rationale for how selenoproteins can combine high selenium‐centered reactivity with resistance to irreversible oxidative self‐inactivation.

Selenium-containing polycaprolactone 3D-printed scaffold for osteogenesis enhancement and bone healing

Robust cement-graphite thick electrode enables high-performance molten salt aluminum batteries

Hydrogen Radical‐Mediated Nitric Oxide Reduction to Ammonia Over Synergistic Pd ⁰ /Pd ²⁺ Dual Sites

ABSTRACT The photocatalytic nitric oxide reduction reaction (NORR) to NH 3 offers a promising route for ammonia (NH 3 ) synthesis, addressing environmental issues and mitigating the carbon footprint associated with the energy‐intensive Haber‐Bosch process. However, conventional sluggish multi‐proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) and poor regulation of valence states at active sites hinder the efficiency of NORR. Herein, we propose a hydrogenation pathway driven by hydrogen radicals ( • H) utilizing ethylene glycol (EG) as a hydrogen donor, which effectively bypasses the limitations of the conventional PCET process. By precisely modulating the valence states of Pd cocatalysts, we construct synergistic Pd 0 /Pd 2+ dual active sites, where Pd 2+ sites facilitate the dissociation of C‐H bonds from EG to supply adsorbed H species (*H), which are subsequently activated into highly reactive • H by photogenerated electrons at Pd 0 sites. This synergistic effect of Pd 0 /Pd 2+ guarantees a steady flux of • H for deep NORR. Optimizing the Pd 0 /Pd 2+ ratio to unity (Pd 1.0 /TiO 2 ‐50) enabled a superior NH 3 yield rate of 31.61 ± 1.61 mmol∙g cat −1 ∙h −1 with high NO conversion (91.54% ± 1.82%) and NH 3 selectivity (90.14% ± 1.38%) in a single pass flow. Comprehensive in situ characterizations elucidate the causality between Pd valence states and radical generation, offering a new paradigm for designing and understanding the radical‐mediated chemistry.

Toner@cobalt ferrite nanocomposite based dispersive solid phase microextraction approach for the preconcentration of lead ions in bottled drinking water samples

Phage terminase recognition by the bacterial immune sensors Avs2 and Upx

Abstract Prokaryotes employ diverse defense strategies to detect and halt the progression of phage infection. Multiple defense systems sense phage proteins through direct binding, including antiviral STAND NTPases (Avs), which oligomerize upon target recognition to induce programmed cell death. The widespread Avs2 family was previously shown to detect the large terminase subunit of tailed phages, but the mechanism of terminase sensing was unknown. Here, we determine the structural basis of terminase recognition by Avs2 from Escherichia coli (EcAvs2). A cryo-EM structure at 2.3 Å resolution reveals that EcAvs2 forms a flat, C4-symmetric tetramer in which each protomer is bound to a single terminase monomer. Terminase recognition is mediated by a large, shape complementary binding pocket in the EcAvs2 sensor domain, including specific contacts with an unexpected ATP molecule at the interface of EcAvs2 and terminase. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the defense protein Upx also recognizes diverse phage terminases, despite lacking sequence and structural homology to Avs. AlphaFold 3 models indicate that Upx binds an unfolded state of the core terminase ATPase domain, mediated by β-augmentation. These findings highlight the distinct modes of terminase recognition across structurally diverse defense proteins.

Customized O─O Radical Coupling Route on High‐Density Fe─N─C Catalysts for Stable Industrial‐Scale Water Oxidation

ABSTRACT Low‐cost, efficient, and durable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts are essential for advancing large‐scale hydrogen production via anion‐exchange membrane water electrolysis. However, current state‐of‐the‐art catalysts are hindered by insufficient operational stability at high current densities and a lack of precise control over reaction pathways under dynamic operating conditions. In this work, theoretical calculations reveal a continuous regulatory effect of Fe site density on the adsorption energies of key OER intermediates on Fe─N─C single‐atom catalysts. Experimental results further demonstrate that by progressively increasing the Fe site density, the surface * OH coverage can be finely tuned, enabling a controllable switch of the OER mechanism from an adsorption evolution mechanism to an oxide pathway mechanism (OPM). A high‐density Fe─N─C catalyst (HDFe‐N‐C, Fe loading 14.7 wt.%) following OPM exhibits remarkable electrochemical stability, operating continuously for 2000 h at 500 mA cm −2 with a low overpotential of 288 mV. When integrated into an anion‐exchange membrane electrolyzer, the device achieves 5 A cm −2 at only 2.15 V and maintains stable performance for 500 h.

Late prolonged cardiac monitoring after cryptogenic ischemic stroke using a textile wearable Holter

Maternal metabolic stress regulates progeny intestinal stem cell niche signaling through heritable changes in redox metabolites

Transition Metal‐Free Heteroarene Insertion Into C─C Bonds of Benzocyclobutenones

ABSTRACT The insertion of five‐membered heteroarenes into the C─C bonds of benzocyclobutenones (BCBs) has been achieved. This process proceeds under mild conditions and does not require the use of a transition metal catalyst. A variety of fused polycyclic compounds based on indoles, 7‐azaindoles, benzothiophenes, benzofurans, and thiophenes relevant to bioactive scaffolds are efficiently accessed through this approach. The reaction is scalable, and the products are suitable for various late‐stage derivatizations. Preliminary mechanistic studies reveal a catalytic role of base in facilitating C─C bond cleavage to generate a reactive intermediate which likely engages in subsequent dearomative cycloaddition with heteroarenes.

Copper‐Catalyzed Amino Radical Transfer‐Mediated Deborylation for Chiral Ester Synthesis

ABSTRACT The asymmetric functionalization of nonactivated alkylboronic pinacol esters (APEs) represents a longstanding challenge, owing to their intrinsic inertness toward conventional two‐electron transmetalation pathways and the difficulty in achieving precise stereochemical control over carbon‐centered radicals. Herein, we report a copper‐catalyzed asymmetric deborylative radical coupling enabled by amino radical transfer (ART). By employing aminobenzoates as dual‐function reagents, acting both as aminyl radical precursors to trigger ART‐mediated homolytic C(sp 3 )–B bond cleavage and as oxygen nucleophiles, this three‐component transformation enables enantioselective coupling of APEs with conjugated dienes. The method delivers structurally diverse chiral allylic esters with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). Furthermore, this protocol enables the concise formal synthesis of natural products and the modular construction of chiral ionizable lipids with precise three‐dimensional architectures. These lipids achieve enhanced organ‐selective mRNA delivery, exhibiting extrahepatic targeting with an improved preference for the spleen. Notably, this work establishes a versatile catalytic platform for transforming bench‐stable APEs feedstocks into oxygen‐containing chiral molecules, facilitating the development of tissue‐specific genetic medicines.

Comprehensive characterization of DNA polymerases driver variants using large genomic dataset

Organelle-mimetic nanoreactors for scalable solar H2 and pyruvic acid co-production

Stereoselective Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Racemic Dithiolactones Assisted by Non‐Classical C─H⋯X Interactions

ABSTRACT Stereoselective polymerization offers a powerful route to the synthesis of high‐performance recyclable polymers, yet achieving rapid, controlled, and stereoselective chain growth remains challenging. Here, we introduce a catalytic system that is consistent with non‐classical C─H⋯X (X = O, S) hydrogen‐bonding interactions, in which a bulky quaternary ammonium cation creates a confined environment that orients both the monomer and the propagating chain end through weak yet directional interactions, thereby promoting highly stereoselective ring opening. This system enables ultrafast and stereoselective ring‐opening polymerization of chemically recyclable rac ‐dithiolactones in dichloromethane (DCM), yielding fully recyclable, stereoregular polythioesters ( P m up to 0.97, M n up to 225.6 kDa) that form stereocomplexes to boost the T m from 120.1°C to 224.1°C and deliver polyolefin‐like mechanical performance. More broadly, these results implicate non‐classical hydrogen‐bonding interactions in stereocontrol and offer a robust route to stereoregular, chemically recyclable polythioesters.

Urban water system resilience and risk assessment in a typical arid industrial city: a case study of Karamay

Uncovering ectopic GC-like niches for tumor reactive lymphocyte priming in lung adenocarcinoma using Stereo-XCR-seq

Precise Structure Regulation Induced Morphological Ordering Enables All‐Polymer Solar Cells With 20.29% Efficiency and Extreme Mechanical Robustness

ABSTRACT All polymer organic solar cells (APSCs) demonstrate distinctive advantages in balancing device efficiency while enhancing operational stability, particularly regarding mechanical robustness. However, their power conversion efficiency (PCE) has long been behind that of the corresponding devices with small molecular acceptors. This is due to the precise chemical structure modulation of polymer acceptors (PAs), enabling relatively coplanar conformation and ordered molecular stacking and thus achieving ideal morphology, which remains critically challenging. Herein, in this work, we have designed two biaxial conjugate extension PAs, with various side chain/terminal substituents to control their intermolecular non‐covalent interactions, thereby optimizing aggregation behavior and microstructural orientation of polymer assemblies. It was found that the alkoxy‐functionalized PQxO‐IT facilitates stronger intermolecular interactions and tighter π‐π stacking. Furthermore, the PQx‐FT:PQxO‐IT composite promoted charge carrier mobility and charge transport, while effectively suppressing non‐radiative decay pathways. Consequently, the corresponding ternary device achieved the highest PCE of 20.29% (certified as 20.03%) for the APSC systems so far. Furthermore, the tight and ordered molecular packing endowed the flexible device with a PCE of 18.93% and remarkable durability during continuous bending tests. This study demonstrates a precise structure modulation strategy that offers a viable materials design pathway for high‐performance flexible photovoltaics.

Expired apheresis platelet-derived exosomes promote cutaneous wound healing